Finding Confidence, One Arrow at a Time

This is Ayrin. She was in my troop for five years—sweet, quiet, and a little on the shy side. Like many girls who take their time warming up to new experiences, Ayrin often hung back during activities like archery at camp. And following the Girl Scout philosophy of challenge by choice, we never pushed her. We let her lead her own journey.

But this time at camp, something shifted.

My co-leader gently encouraged Ayrin to give archery a try. With a little more support and a spark of courage, she stepped up. I was facilitating the archery range that day, and I helped her get set up. She released her first arrow—and it hit the target with a loud thud.

Her whole face lit up. 

She stood there, eyes wide, a shocked but excited look on her face. She didn’t say a word at first—just that beaming look of disbelief and pride. I smiled and said, “It makes you feel powerful, doesn’t it?” She nodded, still speechless, but glowing.

That’s the magic of Girl Scouts.

It’s in these small, quiet moments where something big shifts inside a girl. Moments where she realizes what she’s capable of. Where confidence quietly takes root.

Girl Scouts gave Ayrin space to grow, and over the years, I watched her come out of her shell. Her mom told me, after they moved away, that Ayrin still talks about wanting to go to college—because once, we did an activity at my alma mater and I shared my own college story with the girls. That moment stuck with her.

These are the things that stay with them.

The encouragement. The empowerment. The belief that they can.

And sometimes, all it takes is one arrow and a little nudge to start.