Lisa Ling visits local high school | News

OKLAHOMA CITY -- About 30 girls from Emerson High School sat in on an assembly Thursday at their school to welcome nationally-known journalist Lisa Ling. She shared her story of hard times in her own words.

"All of those things that we went through, not having money, or parents around, my dad was always working so that's why I was home with the TV on all the time, all of those things I think made me a lot stronger," Ling said.

Many in the crowd said they can relate.

"Knowing what she's been through and that she's done so many things in her life, well, it's helpful, you know? Knowing that someone like her can do stuff like that and she has the time to talk to us, it's helpful," senior Karina Hernandez said.

Almost all of Emerson's students are on free or reduced lunch and many are pregnant or young mothers.

Those are just two reasons why the Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma wanted Ling to visit the students before heading to that organization’s annual Juliette Low Leadership luncheon.

The luncheon took place at the Oklahoma Country Club where Ling mingled with a crowd of donors that fund many local Girl Scout programs.

"It's amazing for us to be able bring in people that those girls would never be able to meet in the Oklahoma City area. Those girls come from very challenged situations," Girl Scout spokeswoman Jaimie Siegals said.

2012 marks the 100 year anniversary for the Girl Scouts of America.