Syracuse Sun

Taylor Ratliff, a first-year student in inclusive childhood education, has made strides in mental health advocacy through her Girl Scout Gold Award project. The project, titled "Take Action," led to the establishment of the Meaningful Mentors Club at Eagle Hill Middle School in the Fayetteville-Manlius Central School District.

Ratliff and 24 other Girl Scout Ambassadors were honored with their awards by the Girl Scouts of NYPENN Pathways Council during a ceremony held in Syracuse in November 2024. Reflecting on her experience, Ratliff shared, “I realized I had chosen the right major while I was doing the project. Whenever I was working on my presentations or in front of the middle schoolers, I was in my happy place."

The Gold Award represents the highest achievement within Girl Scouts and requires an 80-hour sustainable community service project. Ratliff's focus was on "Mental Health and Wellbeing in Schools," inspired by her experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. She explained, “The idea to focus on mental health came from my experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Initially starting as an after-school yoga club to promote mental health through physical activity, Ratliff's initiative evolved into a mentoring program after consulting with high school mental health educator William DeSantis and Eagle Hill math teacher Meghan Pomeroy.

The Meaningful Mentors Club facilitated monthly meetings where high school students offered guidance to middle schoolers transitioning to high school. Each session revolved around different mental health topics such as anxiety and stress management. Activities like “What’s on Your Plate?” helped participants identify stressors while engaging them in team-building exercises.

Ratliff noted that attendance remained strong throughout the year with about 20 to 30 participants per meeting and support from a dozen high school mentors. She remarked, “My friends said it was good to return to middle school after the disruptions of COVID-19.”

According to Gold Award requirements, projects must be sustainable. Ratliff confirmed that her club continues under new leadership at Fayetteville-Manlius High School. Looking ahead, she expressed aspirations of returning as a teacher within her district: “My goal is to teach kindergarten."

Ratliff also mentioned potential future involvement with scouting organizations if she has children: "I would consider being a Girl Scout leader—or perhaps help out the Boy Scouts if she has a son."