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Date: 6/21/2023
SOUTHWICK — Juliana Bregoli lives in her comfort zone, trying not to stand out in the crowd. This is becoming increasingly difficult for the 15-year-old freshman at Southwick Regional School, now that she has been given a prominent leadership role with the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts.
Bregoli is now sitting on the scout region’s 20-member Board of Directors. She is looking forward to representing her scouting peers, sharing their voice and her thoughts at upcoming meetings.
“I’m more aware of what happens with the Girl Scouts because I’m still at that age where I can understand what the girls are feeling,” she said. “I like making changes and I want to voice my opinion. I feel like other people are also thinking the same thing, they’re just not brave enough to express what they want.”
Stepping into this very visible position is something Bregoli says she is doing to challenge herself, pushing into areas largely unknown to her.
“This is out of my comfort zone. I don’t tend to be a very social person, but I want to change that and help people. It was very unusual and surprising to me that I wanted to be part of the board,” she said.
For someone who shuns the spotlight, Bregoli lives on its edges. She is active in drama, musical theater and chorus. She’s been a cheerleader for basketball and football teams for seven years and is in her 10th year of scouting.
“It’s fun to be involved in so many things. It can be tough at times when I have scheduling issues and conflicts, but I still manage to get through it,” she said.
It may have been Girl Scouts that gave Bregoli the courage to engage where her more quiet side wanted to pull back. “Girl Scouts has helped me to be more social and aware of the problems in the world and what people have to face.”
Bregoli has gone to one board meeting since being named to the governing body. It was just an orientation — the board didn’t make any big decisions. But the time will come when the 15-year-old will sound off about what’s on her mind and the changes she’d like to make.
“Just some minor things. I really want to voice other people’s opinions that I’ve heard. It’s good to have one person rather than a bunch of people speaking up all at once,” she said.
The Southwick teen has begun working on her Girl Scout Gold Award. According to the organization’s website, girls earn this highest of awards “by using everything they’ve learned as a Girl Scout to help fix a problem in their community or make a lasting change in their world.”
“I’m still working on project details, but I plan to do something to help the community when it comes to conservation lands,” she said. “I’m leaning towards hiking guides, terrain and how to keep the land healthy and clean for the wildlife that lives there and the people who visit.”
Bregoli said she loves health care, and her career goal is to be a surgeon.