Queen Guides? What’s that? This question always circles in my head whenever people ask me. Since Form 1 I had joined Girl Guides Association. However I joined because I used to be a scout in the primary. So I had to. To this date I had never regretted for joining Girl Guides. Girl Guides has made me to become a better person. The road to Queen Guides was never made easy. I had to overcome obstacles as in stress and studies. Along this road I have seen my friends giving up halfway as they could not cope with the stress. I am glad that I managed to overcome it.
When we just started this journey, we never knew what was ahead of us. All we knew was we had to sacrifice lots of energy, time, money and whatever was coming for us to achieve the award. Before this I was an innocent girl with little knowledge. During the process, I had to learn to cook, wash, sewing, camping and lots more things that I never once thought I would do. Now whenever people ask me about those experiences, I can proudly say I did it before. Many people would regard this road to Queen Guides was just wasting time and effort and even on school holidays we had to spent time on the log books and camping.
My teenage life was filled with experiences. We spent time in Breast Center Support Group to do chores and Chesire Home to help out those in needs. Holding camping was another good experience. I had to manage the camp and campers on my own. Cooking and setting up tents was one of the things to do in the camp. Those are the experience that you will not get if you just sit in the class. I was glad that I wasn’t like those nerds who sit in the class and study all the time.
When the final stage comes, I was already in Form 5. Managing time between SPM and Guides wasn’t an easy task to accomplish. We had to travel to Malacca to have our test when the trial was just around the corner. Many teachers reminded us to study as in studies are still more important to path what’s next for our life ahead. Many of us had to burn midnight oil to catch up what we left out during the school. However all was paid off when we presented ourselves in front of the Permaisuri Agong to receive the award personally. QUEEN GUIDES OF 2009. Those are the award I am waiting for since Form 3.
Also to mention, the road to Queen Guides really brought a lot of benefit to me. I met a lot of guides form the other state like Pulau Pinang and Negeri Sembilan. We shared our laughter and experience together. Through them I know more about Girl Guides. When I was with them, I can really felt the passion behind all the guides.
Here I would like to say a big thanks to our Miss Low Beng Choo for her guiding and things she had helped us out. Without her, we would not stand out as a Queen Guide today. As what she told me before, “I can really feel the changes in you after all these. You became a more confident person and dared to stand up on the stage as a leader.” Her words really mean a lot to me. I knew myself was transforming from a timid girl to a more confident person. THANK YOU MISS LOW!!
I would like to take this chance to say a big thanks to my guiding friends- Angela Goh, Chiu Li Hong, Emelda Rose, T’ng Ju Chin, Jamie Fong and also Farra Ellyana. All those experiences that we shared together in the past will stored in my heart forever. Thank you FRIENDS! Lastly I would say thank you to my parents because they gave full support during those time. THANK YOU!
“Once a Guide, always a Guide”
Catherine Goh
