MARYSVILLE – A Marysville Getchell High School graduate worked this summer on the Girl Scout Global Action team.

The goal was to spread awareness to promote access to health care for women worldwide.

Spreading awareness is at the core of what Keegan Samaniego, 17, is all about.

You see, even though Keegan is in Girl Scouts, Samaniego doesn’t identify as a girl – or a boy. Keegan is not gender specific. Therefore, in this article, Keegan has asked to be identified in the plural.

“I never really felt like a girl,” they said. “I don’t like gender. I don’t fall under either category.”

They started in Girl Scouts when in kindergarten and has been in the organization for 13 years.

Keegan likes the organization because it is accepting of people’s differences and has given them opportunities they wouldn’t have received elsewhere.

“I’m part of a community,” they said, adding their troop is their chosen family.

As a Scout they have learned to enjoy hiking and the outdoors, along with affecting the environment in a positive way and mentoring young people.

“I’ve become an active member of society,” they said.

Keegan said they haven’t felt any stigma attached to their uniqueness.

“Amazing acceptance” is how they described the Scouts.

Keegan said they knew early on they were non gender specific, but didn’t share that with others until high school.

Samaniego also has graduated from Everett Community College with an associate’s degree, and plans to attend Reed College in Portland, Ore. next. They plan to major in political science with a minor in Spanish. Classes start Aug. 18. They have been working at Starbucks at the outlet mall in Tulalip, saving money for college.

They have been a member of the Global Action team for four years. Samaniego’s research was on the lack of access to mental health care in our area. “I’m passionate about social change, especially in our area,” they said.

A Global Action news release says through the program, Girl Scouts can become advocates for important issues that impact girls worldwide. The program focuses on three themes:

• Taking action: The team creates a project that has an impact in the community and inspires others to act – creating change for the better.

• Global awareness: Scouts develop cultural awareness by collaborating with a World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts organizations in another country.

• Leadership: The team leads the annual Global Action Summit – a weekend retreat for younger scouts. Teams teach younger girls about action through advocacy, making global connections, and how to follow through on projects that impact their community.

Keegan’s Global Action team, made up of teens in grades 9-12, spent a year researching the topic. “I became a member of the Global Action team because I wanted to make a difference and gain advocacy skills while making new friends at the same time,” Keegan said. “I hope to go into a policymaking career and feel that the Global Action team will provide me with the resources and connections to do well in this field.”

The team of 18-24 students met in Carnation for four weekend retreats to decide who would do what for the project. “It’s one of the best things I’ve ever been a part of,” they said.

The team brought in speakers to talk about health care, including a midwife, someone from the Veterans Administration, UNICEF and other experts. The team was then part of the women’s health summit on Hood Canal.

Keegan said it was great to be a part of a project that will educate others.

“We are the change,” they said.