Juliette Gordon Low

Hello! My name is Juliette Gordon Low, but almost everyone called me Daisy. I was born on October 31st, 1860, in a beautiful city called Savannah, Georgia. As a girl, I loved creating things. I wrote poems, acted in plays, and especially loved to draw and make sculptures. I also loved animals and being outdoors, even though I was known for being a bit clumsy! I faced some challenges as I grew up. When I was a young woman, I got an ear infection, which damaged my hearing. Later, at my wedding on December 21st, 1886, a grain of rice thrown for good luck got stuck in my other ear. These two accidents made it very hard for me to hear for the rest of my life, but I never let that stop me from trying new things and listening to the world in my own way.

After I got married, I moved to Great Britain. For many years, I traveled and continued my art, but I often felt like I was searching for a special purpose in my life. I felt a big change after my husband passed away in 1905. I knew I wanted to do something important, but I wasn't sure what it was. Then, in 1911, I met a man who would change my life forever: Sir Robert Baden-Powell. He had started a wonderful group for boys in Britain called the Boy Scouts. They learned outdoor skills, how to be good citizens, and how to be prepared for anything. Meeting him felt like finding a map to a new adventure.

I was so inspired by the Boy Scouts! Listening to Sir Robert Baden-Powell talk about his group gave me a wonderful idea. I thought girls should have the same chance to learn, grow, and have adventures. Why should boys have all the fun? So, I started a few troops of my own for girls in Scotland and then in London. We called them the Girl Guides. The girls loved it! They learned practical skills like how to tie knots and read maps, but they also learned how to help their communities. Watching them grow confident and strong, I knew right then that I had found my purpose. I had to bring this amazing idea back home to the girls of America.

When I returned to my hometown of Savannah, Georgia, I was filled with excitement. I immediately made a very important phone call to my cousin. I told her, 'I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!' And we did! On March 12th, 1912, I gathered 18 girls together for the very first meeting of the American Girl Guides. The next year, in 1913, we officially changed our name to the Girl Scouts. We went camping, played basketball, studied nature, and learned first aid. More than anything, I wanted to teach girls that they could be anything they wanted to be and that they were strong enough to make a difference in the world.

I spent the rest of my life helping the Girl Scouts grow into a strong organization. I even sold my own valuable pearls to help pay for our activities and traveled all over the country to start new troops. I lived to be 66 years old, passing away in 1927. But my dream continues to live on in every Girl Scout who learns a new skill, makes a new friend, or helps her community. I am so proud that millions of girls have found their courage, confidence, and character through scouting, showing the world the power of girls working together.