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Girl Scout Gold Award Spotlight: Navya Venkatesh – Reducing Academic Stress through Wellness Education
Driven by the rising academic stress among high school students, Girl Scout Navya Venkatesh focused her Gold Award project on equipping students with stress management tools. Observing classmates balancing challenging coursework, extracurriculars, and college preparation, she organized a series of wellness workshops for her peers at Watchung Hills Regional High School.
Navya’s three workshops covered essential wellness topics: time management, de-stressing techniques, and the connection between physical and mental health. Each workshop included a presentation, interactive activity, and post-survey. The December session on time management helped students identify effective study practices and design their own schedules, addressing the prevalence of procrastination. In March, students explored relaxation techniques, engaging in either coloring or origami as a mindfulness activity. Her April session, co-hosted with the Active Minds student group, encouraged students to see the connections between physical and mental wellness, emphasizing how a balanced lifestyle supports academic resilience.
Over 75 students participated, with 93% reporting greater awareness of each topic by the workshops' end. Navya’s Gold Award project will be sustained by the school’s Active Minds chapter, which will continue running the workshops to provide ongoing support to students.
Reflecting on her Girl Scout journey, Navya sees Girl Scouting as a sisterhood that fosters both local and global change. Her project, supported by advisor Emma Giantisco, has shown her the power of organized, community-focused leadership and her own ability to bring positive change to her school.
Congratulations to Navya on her impactful Gold Award project!
October 25, 2024
