ZaRyiah Clay of Chattanooga is one of 29 girls to earn a 2021 Gold Award from the Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians.

ZaRyiah  loves working with younger children and wanted to help alleviate early childhood literacy challenges in her community. Guided by daycare and preschool directors, ZaRyiah created engaging lesson plans for teachers to use with Pre-K students.

Gold Award Girl Scouts are high schoolers who address issues they’re passionate about by planning and implementing a project that produces lasting change in the community and beyond. It is the Girl Scouts’ highest and most prestigious honor.

“I picked this project because I enjoy working with young children,” ZaRyiah shared. The lessons she created incorporated hands-on activities that resulted in proud students who showed solid progress with their school-readiness skills. “My favorite part of working in the classrooms was watching the children’s excitement when they had a correct answer.” 

ZaRyiah working with kids at the daycare. 

ZaRyiah describes herself as kind, funny and outgoing, which are amazing traits to have when working with and trying to engage young children.

She also discovered more about her own determination as a result of this project.

“Once the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I had to figure out how I was going to complete my project,” ZaRyiah said. “It was quite a challenge for me. I talked to the daycare I was working with and ended up working with another daycare to complete my project. In addition to time management, determination was a key factor. No matter what, you have to follow through and keep pressing until you finish!”

ZaRyiah’s time in the Girl Scouts introduced her to new things, such as camping with her troop, which she remembers fondly. These days, she can be found working, singing (“I love to sing!”), shopping, and still working with younger children. She is attending Chattanooga State Community College.

Congratulations, ZaRyiah! Visit girlscoutcsa.org to learn more about the Girl Scouts.  

ZaRyiah collected books to be given to the daycares.

Kids love Mickey Mouse so ZaRyiah dressed up as the popular character one day. 

ZaRyiah reading a picture book to some of the daycare kids.