09/12/2025
Taking the First Step Alone
Maโam Arlene T. Dela Peรฑa quietly began a journey that would leave a mark on her Girl Scouting life last December 6โ8, 2025, at Sta. Victoria in the City of Ilagan. She arrived at the Provincial Camp not with a team, not with fellow leaders, and not even with a single Girl Scout from her district. She came alone, representing Quirino with nothing but her dedication, passion, and genuine love for the movement.
For many, walking into a camp full of unfamiliar faces would be intimidating. But for Maโam Arlene, it became an opportunity, a chance to grow, to serve, and to embrace challenges with courage. Despite having no companions and no one she knew, she never hesitated. She showed up, she participated, and she stood proudly as a camp staff for the very first time in a provincial event.
And in that experience, she found something unexpected: excitement, joy, and a sense of belonging.
Her happiness was evident in the way she welcomed each task, in the way she observed the flow of the camp, and in the way she allowed herself to enjoy every new moment. It was her first time serving as a camp staff (health and safety officer and guider in-charge), and she wholeheartedly hoped it would not be the last. She wanted to learn more, serve more, and meet more people along the way.
Of course, there were difficult moments. Being alone and first timer is never easy no familiar colleague to talk to, no students to accompany her, no one she could automatically rely on. But Girl Scouting has a way of turning strangers into sisters. As she moved through the activities, she saw how friendly, warm, and welcoming everyone was. Slowly, the weight of being alone started to disappear.
Soon enough, she found new friends who made her journey lighter and brighter. She even gained new โbestiesโ, Maโam Joy Liezel Requito and Judy-Ann Millillin and her sub camp 3 sisters who made her feel at home and turned her camp experience into a cherished memory. Sabi nga ng isang staff, "bakit hindi namin kayo mapaghiwalay?"
With heartfelt gratitude, Maโam Arlene extends her thanks to the GSP Isabela Council for trusting her and giving her the chance to serve. Their confidence in her opened doors she never imagined stepping into alone.
In the end, this journey became more than just a camp assignment, it became a reminder that courage grows when we dare to take the first step, even if we take it alone. And for Maโam Arlene T. Dela Peรฑa, Provincial Camp 2025 was not just an event. It was a beautiful beginning.
ikaw, anong kwentong gsp mo?