Cristo Rey student interns, Bria and Ashley, have spent the past few weeks working alongside the staff at Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, learning what makes the council run. At the conclusion of their time here, they spoke with two staff members and interviewed them as part of their final project.

Interview with Elisha Johnson, Retail Sales Coordinator

Why Girl Scouts? What made you get a job with GSCM?

“I was a Girl Scout before I got a job here, and I liked how the organization helped me get to where I am now…. I finished high school, I went to college. I feel like all the values and things I learned from being in Girl Scouts transpired into my adult life, so I thought it would be a good idea if I came back to support it, in a way.”

Could you describe a typical workday?

“A typical workday…I come in, turn on my computer, open up my email, see if any online orders have come in, and then I open up the store. I get the register set up and wait for my first customer to come in. Depending on the day of the week, it’s either really busy or really slow, and sometimes it depends on the season. Like right now sales will pick up towards the end of March, and I’ll be busy nonstop from the time we open until we close.”

What’s the best thing you like about your job? What do you look forward to during the work day?

“I look forward to meeting new people, helping troop leaders – moms and dads that come in to outfit their daughters. It’s a very exciting time! I like seeing the girls happy to come in and excited to get ready with Girl Scouts.”

Do you feel like you’re making a real difference or impact on these girls’ lives?

“I do. Part of becoming a Girl Scout is going to meetings and programs wearing your uniform, and earning badges and patches and pins. The interaction that we do have with these girls who come in with their parents…they appreciate the fact that someone cares enough to outfit them and get them all ready for their meeting or a trip.”

What are the people like with whom you work? Do you feel like you fit in?

“I do feel like I fit in. Within our organization and council we’re very diverse. There’s a nice blend of ages, too; we have people in their twenties, thirties, forties, and so on in each department.”

Has working at GSCM changed you as a person at all?

“I feel like I’ve grown a lot. When I first started working here, I had to get used to working with so many people – way more than I did at my previous job. A lot of people would’ve said I was shy. I’ve also gained a lot of useful skills like data entry, working the front desk, and many different aspects of the organization. I have a lot of skills to take with me if I ever decide to move on with this job.”

Do you remember what your first day at work here was like?

“As soon as I came in, I started training. They showed me how to work the register, told me what a typical workday would be like, told me how certain people come in for specific GS levels and others come in for multi troops so they’ll ask for a bunch of different things. You’re also the first person people will contact, so a lot of calls are non-store related. They made sure I was well prepared though.”

Do you have a task/project that you’ve completed at work that you are especially proud of?

“I’m in charge of making sure that our products are properly displayed or put up online. I’ve been able to communicate with someone from National to help me make sure that the products are up there, and to make sure that everything – all the information we want to give to the customer- is online. We now have over 40 products online that I’ve made sure were properly displayed from beginning to end, and our online sales have increased dramatically because of that.”

Is there anything else you think I need to know or you’d like to tell me?

“I feel like with you being here, your experience here will hopefully get you working for a nonprofit organization sometime in your life. Girl Scouts is a nonprofit, and a lot of people think that we aren’t. It opened my eyes to wanting to work for this kind of organization. In some cases it’s not all about the money – it really isn’t – but it depends on what place you’re at in life. When you go off to college, you might just get connected to a nonprofit that really pulls you in and makes you want to help.”

Interview with Delvini Mason, Print Media Production Specialist

Why Girl Scouts? What made you get a job with GSCM?

“Girl Scouts just kind of fell into my lap. I was working with the government – I had a government contract in D.C…I had just graduated, I was fresh. During that time the recession was in full effect, so I lost the government job because of increased layoffs. I went to a temp agency and got placed here.”

Could you describe a typical workday?

“In the production department I get people coming in and asking for this and that. I’m printing and processing mail all day long- different stuff – recruitment fliers, program material, and other resource material.”

What’s the best thing you like about your job? What do you look forward to during the work day?

“ I look forward to interacting with the young ladies that come through. Because I’m basically confined to one room, I don’t get a chance to interact with them as much, but at least when they come in I am able to pour into them; information from what I know and where I stand. I also want to treat them with the respect that they should get from a male perspective – there’s so many women here, it’s good to have a male perspective once in awhile. I’ve always been into nonprofit, helping other people. I personally know what a nonprofit organization would do for you, for the youth.”

Do you feel like you’re making a real difference or impact on these girls’ lives?

“I feel like I am when I can. Yes, but for the most part, I don’t have much interaction with the young ladies unless I’m volunteering for a program or something like that. I know that they enjoy me, and I enjoy them.”

What are the people like with whom you work? Do you feel like you fit in?

“We all share a common goal, which is our girls that come in. We want to make sure that they grow up well, and we do all we can to help them in whatever way we can. Support them, their talents, or whatever they want to do. We’re participating in giving back to the community.”

Has working at GSCM changed you as a person at all?

“ Yes, it has changed me a lot in different ways. I learned a lot working here. I learned that Girl Scouts isn’t just about cookies – it’s so much more than that – and it has changed the way I viewed certain things from before.”

If you could change one thing about what you do, what would it be?

“I’d want to have more interaction with people. I’m so isolated in this room, and I think that could be my biggest issue.. I’m more of an extrovert than an introvert.”

Do you remember what your first day at work here was like?

“I walked in with this big, goofy smile on my face – “Hey, how you doing?”. I definitely remember my first day… I was excited and happy to have a job. I had just moved here and I was just really excited and curious as to what Girl Scouts had to offer me.”

Do you have a task/project that you’ve completed at work that you are especially proud of?

“All of them. I take pride in everything I do. All of them.”

Is there anything else you think I need to know or you’d like to tell me?

“For you? Just continue to do well. Don’t be afraid to get out there. Put yourself out there, because that’s the only way people will see you. Try not to doubt yourself. Always do all that you can, while you can. Make sure you’re influencing other young ladies around you and just let them know all about Girl Scouts, that it’s just not about selling cookies. And when you go on to college… education is everything… please go to college. Please get your education. Get your masters – not just your bachelor’s – maybe your doctorate, whatever it is you want to do. Make sure you do whatever it is you want to do, because we’re living in a time where we need those things. So make sure you get all that you can.”