DECATUR - Shayla Day and Sonja Chargois, it turns out, share a couple of passionate interests: writing and working with young women.

Day, an Aurora author, will be a special guest during the early registration event of GIRL: Growing Into Responsible Leaders. She comes at the invitation of Chargois, community outreach coordinator for the Decatur Regional Service Center of Girls Scouts Central Illinois.

In fact, Day is returning for the second time for the event.

"I just kind of talked to (the girls) about goal setting," said Day of her previous visit.

"I gave each of them a notebook and had them write down what they wanted to do with their lives.

"Then they had to write three things to achieve those goals," said the woman who knows she is herself very goal oriented.

"Anything is achievable if you work hard toward it."

Chargois said the early registration also includes an agency fair with at least 15 different ones being represented, including Millikin University, Richland Community College and the Macon County Health Department. Having so many representatives involved, she continued, gives girls the chance to get to know where to go to ask questions or to get help.

"Just getting a business card, getting some brochures, getting some information can be helpful," Chargois said.

The GIRL program is offered to middle and high school girls with the main emphasis to finish school and develop them into strong leaders, explained Chargois, with about 30 girls participating.

"The theme for this year was getting prepared for the real world, what's coming after high school graduation and what's ahead of them."

Day said she looks forward to meeting the girls since her previous experience was rewarding to her.

"I was really impressed by (the girls)," she said.

"A lot of them were so specific. They inspired me, just being there.

"I wished something like this was around when I was young."

Arlene Mannlein can be reached at amannlein@herald-review.com or 421-6976.

If you go

WHAT: early registration for GIRL: Growing Into Responsible Leaders, a program of Girl Scouts of Central Illinois in collaboration with Decatur Public Schools

WHEN: 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 17

WHERE: Hope Academy

WHO'S INVITED: all girls, ages 12 to 17, and mentors age 18 or older who might wish to be involved in the program

ACTIVITIES: Shayla Day; HOT 105.5 radio live remote; Youth With a Positive Direction and their chief executive officer, Margaret Walker; Mr. Johns School of Cosmetology will award a $1,000 scholarship to a student interested in cosmetology; door prizes.