Clarion Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist

For sixteen years I’ve worked at Scott Carpenter Middle School in Denver helping students learn and grow and have adventures they may not have. When I was told Sylvia Acevedo was going to be doing a tour of local schools for her book, I knew we’d have to bring her to our school. You see, Scott Carpenter was an astronaut and much of our school is space themed. Many of my students come from similar backgrounds as Ms. Acevedo and don’t believe they can choose where life takes them by setting goals and working hard to achieve them. The power of community is mentioned more than once in this book and it is so true. If we can find one good community to help us grow and become better humans than we will have succeeded. “Planning ahead and doing things properly can help you get what you want.” So many times my students look for the quick and the easy, but things take time and hard work to gain long term rewards.I find it amazing she drew strength from Clara Barton, Eleanor Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart and Helen Keller just to name a few. Our Girl Scout troop wanted to inspire other girls to show them they could be super heroes. The girls planned a camp and welcome juniors to learn how they could be a hero in their community. Little did we know we picked these same women to teach other girls how powerful women could be as leaders, and as gangs agents. Here’s hoping in many years we will also count Sylvia Acevedo among this amazing group of super heroes :-)

My 5th grade daughter was tasked with finding a book that was a true story for a book report. It took several trips to the library, searching through several bookshelves at school and friends homes. She just is not one of those kids who is inspired to read on her own. She finds it to be a chore. Frustrated with helping her find a book in time for her to read it and complete a book report project I began searching by the places she loves and the things she loves to do. First on that list is Girl Scouts and second is camping. This book popped up and lo and behold it was just released! I took a chance and ordered it immediately. My daughter devoured this book. Thank you Sylvia Acevedo! My girl is inspired by you and your story. She gave a presentation to her class and her Girl Scout troop about her experience reading this book and is now telling me she one day wants to be a camp counselor or camp director just so she can be a Girl Scout for as long as she can!

I still read to my 10 year old at night. She looks forward to the story each night.Minor things:- There were times I felt like we were going backwards when reading because it would skip ahead and then back.- I have a late believer so I skipped over that while reading.Ultimately, the book was really beautiful. I really like how it shows girls they are capable of anything. I may have enjoyed it more than my 10-year-old. :)

The author is a close friend of mine. The story is so true, so close to who Sylvia Acevedo is in her person. It was delightful to follow the determination and persistent from a naïve young girls to the determined, persistent and experienced adult who still says I can do it. I'm passing the book on for others to read and recommending it to some friends who still have young daughters.

Purchased this book for myself, but it will be a book I gift to many, kids and adults alike about go after your dreams full on. Way to break the barriers, as a woman and in society's view of what Girl Scouts do. Girl Scouts is SO MUCH more than crafts, as Silvia illustrates in her book. She would not have pursued her dreams without the confidence and courage that Girl Scouts gave to her. She truly is a woman of character, confidence and courage.