Alumna Spotlight: Elizabeth Harris

Meet AHG Alumna, Elizabeth Harris

Servant leader. Dedicated student. Faithful Daughter of the King.

Since 1995, the Mission of American Heritage Girls has been to build women of integrity. While the AHG Program targets those in girlhood, the sincerity and faith-filled spirit that is nurtured and grown through AHG continues as girls develop and mature into women.

For AHG Alumna and Stars & Stripes Award Recipient Elizabeth Harris, dinghy sailing is an exciting combination of detailed, skillful planning and the unpredictable nature of God’s creation. With nothing but a life jacket, a small sail boat, and the power of the wind and sea, Sarah and her fellow crew members are able to traverse the open waters in what looks to be an expertly-choreographed routine. From the outside, it can look like nothing short of chaos, but for Sarah, it’s the perfect example of trust in God and the natural ability to lead. She has AHG to thank for a solid foundation of faith and leadership training.

“The leadership skills I learned in AHG are invaluable to me. I learned how to develop a plan, follow it, and instruct others. I also learned improvisation, because sometimes, events do not go according to plan.” Today, Elizabeth sharpens those foundational leadership skills learned through AHG as a midshipman at the United States Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, NY. “AHG definitely helped me achieve my goal of attending a service academy. In the span of a lifetime, participation in AHG is a rather short term event, but the principles learned will be used for a lifetime,” said Elizabeth.

Thanks to her time in AHG, Elizabeth was able to strengthen her faith and solidify her identity in Christ throughout her teenage years. It’s most evident what a profound impact the Christ-centered nature of the program had on Elizabeth when asked to share her favorite earned badge. Her answer? “The Daughter of a King Badge. I thought it was a very heartfelt badge that really allowed me to explore my relationship with Jesus as his daughter. I realized how special I am to Him,” said Elizabeth. She attributes AHG with her ability to integrate God into every facet of her life today.

In addition to the leadership and faith emphases of the AHG Program, Elizabeth remembers her time in the outdoors with her AHG Troop fondly. She and her fellow American Heritage Girls learned to expect the unexpected, and revel in the joy that comes with surprise. “I loved camping a lot. The weather almost always turned bad, but that made the time more fun,” said Elizabeth. Today, Elizabeth’s love for God’s creation and the great outdoors lives on. During the semester, you can find her navigating the waters surrounding Long Island, and developing her skills as a sailor as a member of the Varsity Intercollegiate Dinghy Sailing Team.

Elizabeth is set to graduate from the Merchant Marine Academy in 2022 and plans to commission as a Naval Officer. She aspires to become a Naval Aviator, a career requiring great confidence, determination, and resilience—abilities Elizabeth most certainly harbors, thanks to her formative years as an American Heritage Girl.

Elizabeth’s words for girls in the AHG Program today? “God has a plan for your life, and it may not be what you expect. God places good desires in your heart for a reason, but He may lead you to accomplish them in a way different than what you planned. But that’s okay! He might even change your desires. I’ve learned that His plan is always better, and I’m more joyful for it. His way is not for the faint of heart, because your relationship with him will be tested and there are times that you will be “alone” (but not really, because He’s always there). Since I’ve been on my own these past few years [at USMMA], it has been the best years of my life, and the hardest. But I keep following God, and I would not change a thing.”