From Summer Adventures to a New School Year: Red Carpet Girl® Is Growing!

A summer of expansion, exploration, sisterhood and unforgettable experiences—and now, preparing our girls for what comes next.

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Summer always seems to go by much too quickly.

One moment, our girls are celebrating the last day of school and looking forward to sleeping a little later, spending time with friends and enjoying a break from their regular routines. Then, almost before we know it, the backpacks come back out, school supplies begin filling the shopping carts, and another school year is upon us.

But before we officially say goodbye to summer, we wanted to take a moment to share what has been an incredibly special season for our Red-Carpet Girl® family.

Because this summer, we didn't just make memories.

We grew. We explored. We learned. And we gave our girls another opportunity to see just how big their world—and their possibilities—can be.

We Opened a New Chapter—Literally!

One of our most exciting milestones this summer was the opening of a new Red Carpet Girl® Mentee Program Chapter at Jesus In Action Ministries, Inc.

For Red Carpet Girl®, expansion isn't simply about adding another location.

It means opening another door.

Another door for a young girl to meet a mentor.

Another door for her to develop confidence.

Another place where she can learn about leadership, etiquette, character, communication, self-respect and personal responsibility.

And perhaps most importantly, another environment where she can be surrounded by people who remind her that her future is worth investing in.

As our Red-Carpet Girl® family continues to grow, we are excited about the opportunity to reach even more girls and families throughout our community.

Then We Took Learning on the Road

One of the things we believe deeply at Red Carpet Girl® is that exposure matters.

We can talk to our girls about college. We can tell them about careers. We can encourage them to travel, experience other cultures and dream beyond what they see every day.

But sometimes, we need to do more than tell them.

We need to take them there.

This summer, our Red-Carpet Girl® Summer Camp did exactly that.

A Private Visit to the University of Central Florida

Our girls had an opportunity to participate in a private tour of the University of Central Florida, where they were able to experience a university campus firsthand.

For some young people, college can feel like something far away—an idea that belongs somewhere in the future.

But there is something powerful about walking across a college campus yourself.

Seeing the buildings.

Learning about campus life.

Asking questions.

Watching students move from one destination to another.

And beginning to think:

“I could see myself here one day.”

That is why college exposure is so important.

We want our girls to understand that higher education, career achievement and leadership are not abstract ideas reserved for someone else.

They are possibilities for them, too.

Around the World—One Country at a Time!

And then...we went to Disney!

But even our visit to EPCOT had a Red-Carpet Girl® twist.

Our girls had an opportunity to explore EPCOT's World Showcase and experience representations of countries and cultures from around the globe.

They walked. They explored. They laughed. They learned. They collected memories—and, of course, we took plenty of pictures along the way!

It was a day filled with fun, friendship and cultural exposure.

Experiences like these remind us that learning does not always happen behind a desk.

Sometimes learning happens while walking through a new place, tasting something unfamiliar, hearing another language, discovering another culture or simply having a conversation with someone whose life experience is different from your own.

And those are experiences we want our girls to have.

Because the bigger her exposure, the bigger her understanding of what is possible.

And Now...It's Back to School!

The suitcases are unpacked.

The summer pictures have been taken.

The memories have been made.

And now comes the next adventure: a brand-new school year.

Parents everywhere are purchasing notebooks, uniforms, shoes, backpacks and school supplies. Calendars are being reorganized, bedtimes are being adjusted, and morning routines are beginning again.

But as we prepare everything our children will carry into school, we want to encourage parents to spend just as much time preparing the young person who will be carrying it.

Don't Just Prepare Her Backpack. Prepare the Girl Carrying It.

Before that first school bell rings, here are five conversations we encourage parents and caregivers to have with their daughters:

1. Talk about confidence. Remind her that she does not have to change who she is simply to fit into a particular group. Encourage her to walk into her new school year knowing that she belongs in the room.

2. Talk about friendships. Every friendship isn't necessarily a healthy friendship. Talk about choosing friends who encourage her, respect her boundaries and want to see her succeed—and about being that kind of friend to others.

3. Talk about communication. Can she introduce herself confidently? Look an adult in the eye? Ask a teacher for help? Respectfully disagree? Speak up when something doesn't feel right? These are life skills that will serve her far beyond the classroom.

4. Talk about goals. Instead of only asking, “What grades do you want this year?” ask her what she wants to accomplish as a person. Maybe she wants to become more organized, participate in a club, improve her public speaking, make new friends or become more responsible.

5. Talk about her character and reputation. Social media can make young people feel as though popularity is everything. Remind her that likes and followers do not determine her value.

Ask her this instead:

“At the end of this school year, what do you want people to be able to say about the young woman you became?”

That conversation may tell you far more than a report card ever could.

Her Journey Is Just Beginning

As we reflect on this summer—from opening our newest Red Carpet Girl® chapter, to walking a university campus, to exploring cultures from around the world—we are reminded again why this work matters.

We cannot encourage our girls to dream big while exposing them only to what they already know.

We must allow them to see more.

Experience more.

Ask questions.

Meet people.

Visit new places.

Make mistakes.

Develop confidence.

And begin imagining themselves in rooms they haven't entered yet.

At Red Carpet Girl®, our mission extends far beyond teaching which fork to use at the dinner table or how to make a proper introduction.

We are helping young ladies develop the confidence, character, etiquette, leadership, communication skills and vision they will need to walk boldly into their futures.

So, as summer comes to a close and another school year begins, our message to every girl is simple:

Walk into this school year with your shoulders back, your head held high, your goals in front of you and your character leading the way.

Your backpack may be filled with everything you need for class.

But what you carry inside of you will take you much further.

Welcome back to school, girls.

Let's make this year count.