(Photo credit: Forbes.com)
“Once
you have attained knowledge you cannot go back to ignorance.”
–Admiral
Michelle J. Howard
February is Black
History Month, and all month long we’ll be highlighting African American women
who have defeated the odds, dreamed big, and paved the way for girls and women
to follow in their footsteps. The best part? They’re all Girl Scout alumnae!
We’re kicking things off
today with the amazing Admiral Michelle J. Howard, who has served in the United
States Navy since 1982 and is the highest-ranking woman in American naval history. Michelle also has countless “firsts” under her
belt: not only is she the first woman in the U.S. Navy’s 236-year history to be
promoted to four-star admiral, but she also, in 1999, became the first African
American woman to command a naval ship.
Over a span of three
decades, Howard has continuously shown perseverance and bravery in the face of
seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Her shining example has helped change
perceptions about what women can accomplish when they follow their passions,
never give up, and always strive to be their best.
Admiral Howard
attributes many of the values that helped her succeed to her time in Girl
Scouting.
"For me, Girl
Scouts was about friendship and learning—mostly learning about ourselves and
that we could do anything if we worked as a team," she says.
"My favorite camp
memory was an orienteering weekend. Our troop split into two teams, and
we laid a 10-mile trail and put three distinctive markers (that we made)
at waypoints. The next day, we traded routes and had to hike the other
team's trail and find the markers. There is no end of satisfaction knowing
that, with a compass and friends, you don't have to get lost in the
woods."
And that's the lesson
that has stuck with Admiral Howard.
"In life, with a
moral compass and friends, you can find your trail to success."
Note: The views
expressed are those of the speaker and do not necessarily represent the views
of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Navy.