Meet Giuliana Bishouty, a Clarence High School student who excels in many things and is one of our neighborhood network babysitters. Giuliana was recently recognized for her work in the community.  A ceremony was held where she was presented with a special Girl Scout Gold Award. The Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout in grades 9-12 can earn and requires 80 hours of work toward a community service project of her own choosing. Through their projects, Gold Award Girl Scouts create a real, lasting, and sustainable impact in their communities. They build skills in topics such as leadership, time management, organization, confidence-building, and problem-solving.

Stroll interviewed Giuliana about her award.

Giuliana: For my Gold Award, I created a health awareness program which I shared via social media. I conducted research and interviewed various professionals so I could provide information to my peers. As children, our parents planned our meals and encouraged us to join sports. But how many peers truly know what it takes to be healthy? I created an awareness program to educate peers on healthy living and healthy eating, and also make peers aware of illnesses that are associated with unhealthy lifestyles, such as obesity, diabetes, and eating disorders. I wanted to educate my peers on food tracking apps, simple exercises and community exercise events. This is an important issue and an issue that still gains a lot of attention. There is no cure but hopefully learning early and often can eliminate some of the negative trends that have been emerging and can teach peers how to have healthy, lifelong, relationships with food.

There were lots of comments about how helpful it is and how they wish they had more info like this when they were kids. One person liked that I highlighted local free events to stay active. Another liked the idea of using a tracker.  Another liked the on the go healthy snacks.

1. Exercising! There are many different ways and it can be fun

2. There are healthy and yummy recipes: not everything has to be processed and full of sugars

3. Rewards should come in different forms, not just candy

4. Stressing the importance of water

I enjoy peppers, grapes, fruit, and a traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

I created two children’s books both in Spanish and French. The Colored Cows in Spanish (Las Vacas de Colores) and French (Les Vaches Couleurs); and Animal Friends and Sounds in Spanish (Las Animales y Los Colores) and French (Les Animaux et Les Couleurs). I just love to share knowledge to help and educate people.

I wrote and illustrated my books using Canva. I had them bound and am looking into offering them in e-book form this Fall. This past summer, I was fortunate to read my French books at a summer French immersion camp. I also have a You Tube channel where I read them.  My You Tube channel is being developed to teach others Spanish and French. 

Top school subject? Science

Best way to spend a day off? Hanging out with friends and reading a book

Favorite restaurant? Too many, lol

What you love about babysitting? Meeting and connecting with new kids

Worst household chore? Mopping

How would you spend a million dollars? By helping kids in foster care