Girl Scout’s conference to focus on self-esteem

Olney resident to hold ‘Free to Be Me’ workshops for teens and pre-teens

The conference will take place on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. at the Academy of the Holy Cross.

Modeled after the Girl Scout ‘‘Uniquely Me” self-esteem development program, the conference will feature workshops for girls and adults that will focus on techniques to empower them to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Topics will include dealing with bullies and mean girls, healthy eating and exercise, improving mother-daughter relationships, makeup and skin-care techniques, and feeling good about yourself on the inside and out.

Brady, a member of Girl Scout Troop 4058, said she organized the event because she felt compelled to share her story and to give back to other girls who are struggling with self-esteem issues.

Brady participated in a program at Georgetown University Medical Center when she was 11 years old that helped change her life, she said.

‘‘It focused on learning healthy eating and exercise techniques, as well as developing inner self-esteem,” she said. ‘‘In eight months, I lost over 35 pounds in the program and have maintained the weight loss for over six years now.”

Brady said she also learned that her self-esteem had to be developed from the inside, and learned strategies to appreciate and value her own inner beauty no matter what she weighed.

Four years ago, Brady’s story was aired on two local news stations.

‘‘I received so many calls from parents and girls who were struggling with issues of self-esteem and weight,” she said. ‘‘It was great being able to individually share my lessons learned.‘‘

Brady went on to compete in many pageants, most recently winning the title of Maryland Junior Teen in 2006.

She said that because she was able to overcome childhood obesity, she knew she wanted to use her experience to help others.

Brady has arranged for several nationally recognized medical, mental health and fitness experts to speak at the conference, all expected to share their knowledge in a fun, interactive program.

‘‘These are the doctors and others who helped me to learn and accept who I am,” she said.

Girl Scouts and non-Girl Scouts are welcome to participate and encouraged to wear comfortable clothes and sneakers.

if you go

‘‘Free to Be Me” for girls in fifth through eights grades will be held noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Academy of the Holy Cross in Kensington. The program is free, but advance registration is encouraged. Send e-mails to Kelleymbrady@aol.com with conference participant’s name, age, phone, e-mail, address and grade. If the participant is a Girl Scout, include troop number and troop leader’s name.