Roxanne Flores -
I was a girl scout from first grade to sixth grade. I
actually earned my Bronze award and loved the process. My family moved from
Germany to Louisiana which put an end of my Girl Scouting years. There was not
an active Service Unit in my small town in Louisiana, so my Girl Scouting came
to an end at that point. I picked it back up when my daughter was in the first
grade. I was not a leader then, just a parent volunteer and I loved it. My
daughter's troop disbanded during that year and my daughter was placed on the
waiting list. I was told the list was over a year long and the only way my
daughter would get in a troop immediately would be for me to become a Troop
Leader. I honestly was scared at the time because I didn't think I could fit it
in my schedule. Thankfully, I was wrong and this was the beginning of a new
chapter in my life.
As a troop leader
my goal was for the girls to try new things and make new friends. The first
rule we set for our troop was that our girls be from different schools. We
wanted them to make new friends and step out of their comfort zone. In
hindsight, I am happy I made this rule; I think of the friendships that I now
have because of Girl Scouts. Melissa and Tobi are some of my closest friends
and we would have never known each other if not for Girl Scouting.
Girl Scouts has affected my life completely—personally
and professionally. On a professional level, I work as Volunteer Services Youth
Coordinator. I was able to use my experience as a Troop leader when I applied
for this job. I had the administrative experience but being a Girl Scout leader
prepared me for events as well as working with volunteers. During my time with the
service team, I was an event coordinator and that taught me event planning. Now
I plan many events over a year. When I first started my job I relied heavily on
the experience and trainings I had with the Service Unit.
On a personal level, my life has changed drastically
since I became a Troop Leader. The first part was leaving an abusive marriage.
It is funny to me that I was so wrapped up in the situation, that I did not see
how bad it was till I started stepping away and educating myself through activities
built the girls’ self-esteem. By empowering them, I empowered myself. I asked
myself one time , " How can I be a great role model and show them a strong
woman when I am in this bad situation?" I left the marriage and have never
looked back. I completed my education and received my degree. To this day, the girls don't know how much
they helped me! I am in awe when we go somewhere and the girls immediately pick
up or clean an area because they learned a Girl Scout always leaves a place
better than it was before. I see the confidence these girls have when they
speak in public and how they try different things because change is good. I see
the girls following the Girl Scout law on a daily basis. Girl Scouting is not
an activity they do once a week but instead a standard of how the live their
lives.
I am the mother of three children; Devon is 18 years old,
Olivia is 13 years old, and Shiloh is 1. My son has had cancer twice in his
lifetime and I admire his zest for life. I never hear him complain and whenever
I feel like complaining, I think of everything he has faced or is facing on a
daily basis. I am engaged to be married this month and look forward to the day.
I received my Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Texas Women's
University. I am actively involved with the Special Olympics as a volunteer and
am also a proud parent of an athlete. I am a board member of Killeen Sister
Cities Osan Korea, Killeen Chamber of Commerce Public Education Committee, and
Friends of the Killeen Library, Keep Killeen Beautiful, and Relay for Life. I
have been a Girl Scout Troop Leader for 7 years, and this is my fifth year on
the Service Team. I have held several positions with the service team: Event
Coordinator, Area Delegate, Secretary, FOGS Chairperson, and Media
Communications Chair. I work full time with the City of Killeen and I will hit
the twenty year mark in October. I enjoy my job tremendously and love coming to
work and love the spirit of Team Killeen.
