JoyRose Mahl Finds Leadership Opportunities In Girl Scouts And Early Childcare Education

Photo Courtesy Of JoyRose Mahl

BY MELANIE SMITH

Walking into the Cooper City Recreation Center, a chaotic scene takes place. Before the meeting begins, young, miniature Girl Scouts delightedly chase each other around the room.  However, their focus rapidly shifts from their game of tag to another face that walks in with a cheery smile.  Immediately, all the scouts emit an excited cheer as they encircle the newcomer.  Cooper City High School senior JoyRose Mahl greets each one of the ten faces, matching their enthusiasm. When the meeting finally begins, she sits among them, assisting them with a craft or the completion of a badge.  Prior to the conclusion of the meeting, Mahl sings songs with them about anything from bubblegum to princesses, never stopping out of fear of looking ridiculous, but grinning at the laughter and joy present among the children.  Outside of the pressures of schoolwork and social hierarchies, Mahl is a role model to many young children, impacting not only them as individuals, but the future of our society as a whole.

Mahl was first introduced into the world of Girl Scouts at the age of six, when her older brother, who had many experiences in Boy Scouts, inspired her to join a troop.  An innocent, fun-filled environment with friends, camping, snacks, and innocent songs, Girl Scouts instills value in community service even within its younger members.  Mahl’s troop helped others through various events, such as cleaning up parks and beaches, participating in food drives for the homeless, and sending cookies to the United States Military Troops deployed overseas.  One thing that Mahl vividly recalls from her early days as a scout is the older girls and how easily they ran events and commanded the respect of the younger scouts.  They inspired her to stick with Girl Scouts through the years.

Every other Wednesday, Mahl can be seen assisting her group of ten second grade girls in their meetings.  The goal of Girl Scouts is to empower young women to make the world a better place by instilling the character traits of leadership, respect, compassion, kindness, resourcefulness, and tolerance.  Mahl’s job is to help the adult leaders teach the girls these skills, through badges, crafts and service projects, all the while making it an enjoyable experience for every single girl.  For example, one time at a camping trip when the children were frightened at the idea of spending the night in an unfamiliar place, Mahl slept in their cabin in order to comfort them.

“Working with them makes me feel like I have ten different sisters, each different in their own way,” Mahl said.  “I get to show them how it is important to stick through Girl Scouts because even though its mostly fun, it also prepares you for real life.”

Mahl’s work is not just limited to Troop 11023, however; it also extends to the Early Childcare program at CCHS. Mahl loved working with young children at summer camps, and used this in her decision to take the class.  Along with the other students in the class, Mahl teaches pre-school students, also known as the “Littlest Cowboys”, basic skills needed for kindergarten such as math, science, and reading.  The program not only offers a daycare service to teachers, but helps students understand how to care for children ranging from infants to eight-year olds, as well as allowing students to discover whether or not they actually enjoy working with children.

“You can tell she loves working with children by how much effort she puts into her projects,” Department Head of Family and Consumer Services at CCHS Joyce Bramen said. “She has spent so much time putting her CDA together.”

The program also gives students the opportunity to earn the Childcare Development Associates Degree (CDA), which grants them a valid license to teach pre-school anywhere in the country.  This year, Mahl is the only one attempting to earn the credential.  Applicants must pay a fee, fill out paperwork, submit essays and projects, and create a portfolio of their work.  Finally, the CDA requires the student to be reviewed and evaluated while working with children in a classroom setting.  Students are not only able to earn college credits, but can also start a career in caring for children right out of high school.

“I did the CDA because it’s something I can achieve while still in high school,” Mahl said.  “I love working with children; teaching them makes me happy.”

Not only does Mahl help children grow up to become better people, but she also participates in various community service activities.  Inspired again by her brother’s Eagle Scout Award and the prospect of an impressive resume, Mahl earned her Girl Scout Silver Award, the second highest award offered in Girl Scouts, by creating a sustainable project that benefits her community.  She helped get rid of the noxious air potato plant, an invasive species that puts stress on the ecosystem by competing with native species, at Long Key Nature Center in Davie, Florida.  As a part of the BBYO (B’nai B’rith Youth Organization), a Jewish teen youth program, she also helps the community through projects such as raising money for Relay for Life, an organization that funds cancer research.  In addition, Mahl’s summers are spent volunteering at multiple day camps for children at American Heritage, Camp Woodland, and the Jewish Community Center.  Currently, all of her community work has added up to 729 documented hours for graduation.

Following her graduation from CCHS this June, Mahl hopes to complete her Bachelor’s Degree in child education.  Wanting to start off small initially, Mahl plans to attend Broward College for two years before transferring to Florida International University to continue her education.  After completing school, she hopes to become a teacher in an elementary school for children ranging from kindergarten to second grade.

“My goal is for every child I come across to learn the lessons I teach them about being kind to one another, working together, and having fun,” Mahl said. “I hope the children will be able to get along, making the world a more peaceful place.”