Big-picture concept earns Girl Scout a Gold Award

Rebeca Gonzalez, on the other hand, had two at the same time.

Needing to decide on a project to undertake for her Girl Scouts of America Gold Award, Gonzalez had a brainstorming session with some of her fellow troop members to figure out what direction she wanted to take. Ultimately, she chose to incorporate one of her favorite hobbies.

“We were thinking about what we like to do for fun, and I love photography,” Gonzalez said. “I definitely enjoy the diversity in my community, and I want to display it.”

Gonzalez recruited 10 volunteers, mostly friends and family, for her project. She learned as much as she could about their backgrounds, while concurrently taking photos of them observing their religious and cultural customs.

Putting the exhibit together was not an easy endeavor, and it required a great deal of dedication and perseverance. Like all Gold Award projects, it took dozens of hours of work over a large amount of time to complete.

“It took me most of the year,” Gonzalez said. “I started in January (of 2012) and finally finished with everything and the final product in August.”

Fortunately for Gonzalez, the task was not arduous or unpleasant. In addition to spending time taking photos, it allowed her to develop a closer understanding of some of the people to whom she is closest.

“(My favorite parts were) the photo shoots, actually,” Gonzalez said. “You know, working with a lot of my friends and learning mainly about their backgrounds and a lot of things I didn’t know.”

Once the exhibit was completed, it was prominently displayed in both the Barbara Bush Library and the Tomball College Library, allowing a large number of people to see Gonzalez’s celebration of the community’s diversity. More than just a photographic journey, the exhibit also allowed viewers to learn more about their own heritages.

“A lot of people were really impressed by the quality and the creativity in the project,” Gonzalez said. “They enjoyed the information, along with the pictures.”

While the exhibits, not to mention the Gold Award, are great starts to her artistic career, Gonzalez says she is not yet finished with the photography world, and she plans on taking a photojournalism major at either University of North Texas or Santa Fe University of Art and Design.


About Rebeca Gonzalez
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Community Connection: Student at Klein High School
Fast Fact: Head photographer for school yearbook

Chris Marshall is a freelance writer. He can be reached at neighborhoods@chron.com.