Our Troop 2018 Alumnae:

Maya

Hi, my name is Maya. I was part of the original founding group of Troop 2018. I became the youngest female patrol leader at the age of 10 and had the honor of being a member for 3 years. My time there has shaped me into who I am today and taught me valuable life lessons and skills that I’m immensely grateful for. Since my time there I’m now a sophomore at South River High school. Not only have I kept a GPA of 4.5 but I’ve been a part of Future Business Leader of America and National Honours Society.

With also taking two courses at the Center of Applied technology South for Welding and HVAC being one of the only females in trade but also one of the only dual completer for the program. Through the program I had the opportunity to compete in SkillsUSA which is a trade competition where I won 3rd in our State for Job Interview. I was the youngest person there and never had done an interview before. But on top of all that I’m taking courses at Anne Arundel Community College on the path to have my associates degree by the time I graduate high school, hoping one day to become a lawyer, attending UPenn. Plus I’m on my high school soccer team and playing club training 12 hours a week. I’ve just been accepted on a new team called Royals who are division champs and the number one team in the state for U18. I’ll be playing with them starting in June for the new season. I will be attending an International Tour for soccer with them in Italy for two weeks. The skills I have to do all of this is from my time in Troop 2018 allowing me to have the courage to be who I truly am. My future is bright but only because of my beginning.

LJ

I joined Troop 2018 after Ms. Catherine invited me. I was one of the original members and was consistently Senior Patrol leader. I loved that Troop and made so many memories, and learned a lot about leadership as a woman. After graduating HS, I worked for Harpers Waterfront for 6-8 months. Then in October, I enlisted in the United States Navy, and on November 28th, I left for Bootcamp.  It was a very long 10 weeks with no phone, limited access to loved ones, and a lot of physical and mental training and hardship. And no sleep! During Bootcamp, I held the leadership position, Section leader. That job entailed every morning waking up early at 5am and inspecting everyone’s racks. I had to be an expert on how to fold our issued items, make beds, and march. I set the example alongside 5 other section leaders for my division and led my section during marching to and from around RTC Great Lakes, IL. During Basic Training, I was in a 900 division. Division 909. 900 divisions are performing units. There are 3 different 900 divisions.  My division specialized in drum performance, state flags, and color guard.  Many things will make you a part of 900 division such as ROTC, playing sports, band experience, and in my case, Eagle Scout! I was a part of color guard as the left rifle and performed at my graduation & 3 others. After graduating Basic Training on February 8th and spending time with family, I headed off to A school in Pensacola, FL. It is here where I am learning my job to become an Avionics Electrician Technician O-Level (ATO). I was barracks support for a month and a half, making friends, going to the beach, and doing volunteer service on base. I became classed up on March 18 & began really studying.  Shortly after I started school, I became class leader from my leadership skills I learned from scouting, and of course, taking a chance and volunteering for the position. I am top of my class in a very fast-paced environment with 2-3 tests a week on Avionics subsystems, components, and a lot of math. I have been nominated for early advancement for my exemplary effort, and once I arrive in Norfolk, VA in January 2025, I will become an E4. I graduate on June 5th from A-School and soon I’ll be heading to Jacksonville, NC for my C-School, where I will learn how to fix & maintain Ospreys. I will be there for 6 months, then in January 2025, I will head to my ultimate duty station Norfolk, VA, where i will join my squadron, the Mighty Bisons. If you are questioning whether or not you should give Scouts BSA a chance, do it. I made so many memories, friends, and obtained so much experience from not only Ms. Catherine who is my biggest inspiration and mentor, but also from the girls in my troop and the moms and dads who tagged along. And let me tell you, Troop 2018 is the best and the most personable troop there is. We are a family and always will be, and I will always treasure the memories I share with my fellow scouts. Hooyah Navy! And Hooyah Troop 2018!!!

Autumn

I joined Troop 2018 just as it was being made and just after girls were allowed to be a part of BSA. Unfortunately, I didn’t stay apart of the troop as long as I wanted because I was a competitive cheerleader at the same time. But that summer we had gone to our first summer camp as some of the only girls there. It was hard, not a lot of the boy troops were fond of us being there. While I was there, I got my welding merit badge. Little did I know that at 14 years old that would spark my passion for my career today. I’m an HVAC and welding apprentice and am a Union worker at just 18 years old. I’m also one of 4 women in my company. The feeling I felt at summer camp that year being the only girl in that welding class is something I still sometimes feel today in class or out on the jobsite, but troop 2018 made me realize that sticking out isn’t a bad thing. Even if you’re afraid keep pushing and try new things, you never know where you’ll end up and where it will take you. 

By the way, that welding merit badge seriously was just the start for me, it opened a whole new chapter of interest and I’m grateful I’m able to now pursue it!

Scoutmaster’s note: the rest of the story? Autumn is a natural welder! She braved the Welding Merit Badge class full of boys during the first year girls were able to attend BSA Summer camps. The Merit Badge Counselor praised her work by the end of the week, saying that she was already better at welding than he was!

Ashley

I joined Troop 2018 in 2019, just a few days after girls were allowed into BSA nationally. I had just moved to the area and was ecstatic at the opportunity to follow in my older brother’s steps and participate in the Boy Scouts. The few years I spent in the scouts before aging out had some of my favorite memories and helped me grow into the person I am today. It inspired my passion for nature and helped direct me into my current college major of Wildlife Conservation. I also have a goal of visiting every U.S. National Park in my lifetime, having just visited my first one in April of 2024 (Shenandoah). In my everyday life I try to go on hikes when I find time and spend time either out in nature or reading books learning about various animals and plants. I hope to either become a Park Ranger at a National Park, or some form of Wildlife Conservationist. With my various major changes in the past couple years, I found that I am letting my life path come to me rather than meticulously planning it out. That calm acceptance of life and its changes first took root in me when I was in Troop 2018 and its one of many things I love that has stuck with me even beyond my time in the Scouts. I hope everyone gets the opportunity to have the same types of experiences within this and any other troop.

Hi everyone! I was the first SPL of Troop 2018 when we founded it, and am so glad it has expanded to what it is now! I am currently at the Naval Academy and have just finished a very hectic Plebe (freshman) year. Its been full of adventure and challenges, some that I learned how to handle through Scouts BSA with my time with T2018. I have selected ot be a Math major with a Spanish minor, and I will be starting specailized classes next fall. I am on the Pistol and Water Polo teams at USNA, and am very excited to see what the Navy throws my way in the upcoming years. Please feel free to reach out if you want to talk about USNA, my experiences in T2018, or anything! I’d be more than happy to help with anything that I can. Go Navy!

Bella

My name is Jordan, and I was a Scout in Troop 2018 from the moment that Mrs. Catherine began our troop! I’m currently a Finance major at the University of Maryland and I just finished my freshman year. I love reading, animals, going on walks, traveling, being with family, and did I mention reading? All that I have learned in scouts has been integral to my daily life and I am so thankful to have been a part of this troop and the Scouting community as a whole!

Scoutmaster’s note: Jordan is a member of the Inaugural Class of Female Eagle Scouts!

I am attending University of Maryland for ecology and architecture, and I also work in an ecology lab there. In the summertime, I have a job at a local flower farm. Some of my favorite hobbies are Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, flameworking, cooking, and reading. I just backpacked the Smoky Mountains, and am training for the White Mountains. I’m also learning to play the drums!

Amelia

Hello! I was one of the original members of Troop 2018, and I held many leadership positions throughout my few years in the troop. One of those positions was Senior Patrol Leader, which entailed me to lead the troop during the first 6 months of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This included lots of virtual meetings and camp outs, but overall we made it through, and I hear the troop is thriving in these post-pandemic years! One of my favorite parts about being in Troop 2018, was the leadership opportunities we had when running stations and activities for the cub scouts! It was so fun! Those experiences definitely sparked my interest in working with children, which is what I do now on a daily basis.

After scouts, I went on to earn my 90 Clock Hour Certificate my senior year of high school. This was a three year program I completed in 2 years, and this certificate enabled me to become a preschool teacher! I have been working at a private daycare for over 2 years now, primarily as a preschool teacher, but I also help out in all six of our classrooms, working with students aged 18 months to 11 years old. I started working at this daycare my junior year of high school, and I plan to stay there until I graduate with my associate’s degree from Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) in the Spring of 2025. I started at AACC in the Fall of 2023, and have since made the Dean’s List! Once I finish my journey at AACC, I plan to go to Towson University in Maryland to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. So far, I have worked hard to have all of my schooling paid for by scholarships and funds, and I plan to continue doing so throughout the rest of my education. Many scholarship applications ask for volunteer experience, and scouts is a great thing to write about!

I have also continued my love of cooking and baking that I practiced on campouts frequently! On top of being a full-time student, I work 3-4 days a week, as well as babysit, dog sit, and bake for my family and friends! My favorite desserts we made on campouts were for sure the dump cakes in our Dutch ovens!

Natalie

My name is Natalie, and I’m a Computer and Information Sciences major at the University of Maryland. I joined Troop 2018 in 2019 as one of its founding members. As soon as Ms. Catherine told us that BSA had become open to girls, I was ecstatic to join. In 2021, I had the honor of becoming part of the Inaugural Class of Female Eagle Scouts alongside my sister, Jordan. Scouting has had a monumental impact on my growth as a leader, and I am eternally grateful for my years in Troop 2018. I made so many friends and learned countless valuable lessons that I still use in my everyday life. I learned how to be a leader through the various leadership positions in the troop, including when I was Senior Patrol Leader. I learned how to give back to my community and the environment by participating in many fun service projects. I learned to overcome my fears and try new things, like when I finally got the courage to rappel down a 60-foot cliff after days of refusing. Being a part of Troop 2018 taught me about responsibility and sisterhood, and I will always love the family I found in Scouting.

More cool stories will be posted soon!