Holly Roberts is one tech-savvy kid, and she wants to help others who may struggle in using their everyday devices.
In fact, the young woman is so adept at using technology, she has initiated an effort to earn her Girl Scout Silver Award by sharing her skills.
Her mother, Carrie, sparked the idea earlier this year, as she witnessed Holly’s expertise in using phones and computers.
“She knew that I was good with technology, so she recommended, ‘Hey, why don’t you do workshops?’” the 14-year-old said.
So, the member of Zephyrhills Troop 148 decided to do just that.
She and other members of her troop had to come up with their own ideas for pursuing the coveted Silver Award.
Holly had her first tech workshop on June 27 at the GFWC Zephyrhills Woman’s Club building.
She came prepared: She had surveys ready in order to get community feedback, and there were light refreshments available.
She was joined by several others, including her mother and Tammy Whitworth, her troop leader.
For additional support, she also recruited Desmond Gadson, the director of a network operation center.
Gadson has committed himself to Holly’s project, helping to assist in breaking down technical jargon and giving those attending, guidance on using their phones.
Holly said she wants to tailor her teaching skills to what people want to know, or have not yet discovered.
That can include everything from downloading apps, taking photos, texting, using emojis or understanding the meaning of technical terms.
She’s thinking about using feedback she gets on her surveys to help her create a presentation on struggles that people have with technology and how they can address them, said the young woman who will be entering high school this year.
Her mom said that Holly also is “looking at doing a Facebook page once it’s approved through our council, so people can use that as a reference.”
That council represents the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida (GSWCF), and requires that the surveys and project be completed by this October before having a social media presence.
The council also will analyze whether the project is “sustainable” in helping the community and can continue to be of service long after the project is completed, Whitworth noted.
Holly said she’s confident that her task will meet those requirements because people will always need help in better understanding technology.
Holly is open to assisting people of all ages.
She first received her Bronze Award working with her fellow scouts to build and paint a bench that was donated to the Humane Society in Brooksville.
While the Silver Award doesn’t require a team effort, Holly said she’s ready to become a teacher and exercise the patience that comes along with the job.
In fact, she’d already taken on that role before the project began.
The teen has been helping her grandmother discover new features on her smartphone.
For instance, she taught her how to enhance text messages through the use of emojis.
Carrie has learned a few lessons, too.
“I took a picture, and I put words on it,” Holly said. “She didn’t know how to do it.”
So, the teen gave her mother a step-by-step tutorial.
“I was blown away,” Carrie said, adding that Holly is still teaching her new things because technology is constantly evolving.
That’s the kind of feedback Holly is hoping to get with her project — that it’s helpful and it’s needed.
Holly also has her eyes set on achieving a Gold Award in the future, but for now her No. 1 priority is to help people use technology to make their lives easier.
She will have her next workshop on July 11 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It will be at the GFWC Zephyrhills Woman’s Club building at 38535 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.
For more information, call Holly at (813) 312-5345.
Tech workshop
Where: GFWC Zephyrhills Woman’s Club, 38535 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills
When: July 11 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Free
Details: Girl Scout Holly Roberts, will be handing out surveys to gauge what respondents would like to learn about their phones or other tech devices.
Info: Call Holly Roberts at (813) 312-5345.
Published July 10, 2019
