The Girl Scouts of America (GSA) do a lot of good for young girls and their local communities. In Alabama, both the northern and southern GSA chapters have been active in their troops and their region, teaching young girls the power of service, entrepreneurship, and just allowing them to have fun and be kids. How many places exist that still offer that? Sadly, not many.
Like, "Scouting America," which used to be known as The Boy Scouts, GSA is not without its problems. But, it is still one of the few organizations that offers girls an opportunity to expand their world, enjoy new experiences, and learn how to step up and give back. Of course, GSA is best known by its over 100-year-old signature endeavor: Girl Scout cookies. Local and national sales of Girl Scout cookies allow girls and their troops to earn badges, raise money for educational and recreational endeavors, not to mention working wonders in teaching them socialization and teamwork. Before I became gluten-free, I'd contribute to the cause by stocking up on the Samoas (now called "Caramel deLites").
Pro tip: they freeze really well.
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The GSA cookie drive is what inspired a three-year-old girl named Pim Neill to want to be a Girl Scout. Pim saw a local GSA troop peddling their wares and decided she wanted to be one of those girls. When Pim turned six, her family steered her to a Daisies troop with other kindergarteners, and since then, Pim has been rocking the cookie sales.
Finding your tribe and crushing your goals is the subject of this week's Feel-Good Friday.
A 6-year-old Girl Scout in Pennsylvania is absolutely crushing cookie sales this year and is well on her way to beating an all-time record.
Following a bout of social media virality, a scout with Troop 71047 named Pim has sold over 100,000 boxes of cookies and counting, and every sale inches her closer to breaking the record for most Girl Scout Cookies ever sold.
The kindergartener, who broke the single season cookie sale record earlier this year, hopes to eclipse the all-time career sales record of 180,000 boxes held by Girl Scout Katie Francis.
Pim used TikTok in her successful cookie sales campaign. Her dad recorded videos of Pim sampling the cookies offered for sale, and in many of them Pim greeted the viewer with, "Hi, my name is Pim. Do you want to buy some Girl Scout Cookies?"
I don't know how anybody could resist this face.
WATCH:
@lifeofapim ♬ original sound - Luke Mandel Anorak-N
Pim's videos have gone viral, garnering her national attention, including an appearance on CBS News' "CBS Mornings" program. Pim personally delivered cookies sold to Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor, who declared February 20 as "Pim Neill Day," because of the young child's record for selling the cookies.
Pim closed out her sales on March 22, and has reportedly sold 121,546 cookie boxes so far. Not yet clearing the 180,000 goal, but like California elections, there's still counting going on. Pim has managed to establish a new record in Pennsylvania, though.
#KillinIt.
However, discovering the right GSA troop for Pim was a little more complicated than anticipated. Pim has a number of diagnosed conditions, including sensory processing disorder, selective mutism, gastrointestinal issues, anxiety and a chronic pain condition. Because of these hurdles, the GSA troop leaders the family encountered were reluctant to accept Pim as part of a troop.
They tried troop after troop, only to be met with rejection. “The lady said that Pim's disabilities would hold back the troop, and they didn't want her to join,” [Pim's father Luke Anorak-Neill] said of the first troop they tried. Other reasons were that she was too small or just wouldn’t manage. The dad then stumbled upon a kindergarten-only troop and knew Pim would fit right in. "The troop is a great fit for Pim, and it's 11 brilliant, fun kindergartners,” he remarked.
Their loss and — sorry, not sorry — they're terrible leaders and terrible humans.
It's a lovely thing that Pim and her family were not be deterred. They found the right troop for Pim, and that troop is fortunate to have such a fabulous seller. But the most important part: Pim found acceptance, a place where she belongs, and she has made friends and gained new experiences that will shape her life.
While Pim was initially scared to go to meetings and events, she now enjoys the extracurricular activity and has made friends.
Pim, who can sometimes have trouble communicating and forming complete sentences, told USA TODAY she's been able to go to a sleepover and a monster truck event so far.
In pursuing her sales goals, Pim is shedding her anxiety and fears, and becoming more confident in engaging with strangers and the world around her. Pim has also shown she has a competitive streak and greatly enjoys this challenge.
Her dad said, “She really likes watching numbers go up,” he says. “She loves counting. She loves challenges.”
If Pim is this motivated at the age of six, imagine what she'll accomplish when she's 26? Pim is an incredible role model not just for girls, but for anyone who has been told, you can't do that.
I love the quote attributed to Audrey Hepburn: "Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!"
Pim Neill has shown us you're never too young to set goals, and the power in possibilities.
Editor's Note: At RedState, it's not all about politics and policy. We like to bring attention to what's good in the world, with columns like "Feel-Good Friday," "Start Your Weekend Right," and "Hoge's Heroes."
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