More than a Statistic

child's artwork

By: Courtney Edge-Mattos

The numbers are crunched, arranged, and deconstructed. Computers churn out percentages, predictions. They have their place in this world, but they will never tell you your place. The numbers are numbers, but they don’t have all the data. They can’t calculate the unique, glowing being that is YOU.

The statistics don’t know that you dream about a pink picket fence and have clippings from magazines taped to your mirror as motivation.

The statistics don’t know that you read your soon-to-be-born child fairy tales every night before bed.

The statistics don’t know that your grandfather was your idol, that he took you fishing every Friday, and that you think about him every day. You dream of being just like him.

The statistics don’t know that you diapered your younger siblings before you went to school every morning in second grade, then made sure they had a bowl of food within reach so they would eat during the day. You were seven, but you knew how to plan.

The statistics don’t know that you translated for your parents, so that they could understand the world around them.

The statistics don’t know that you dream about college and being a lawyer.

The statistics can’t calculate how resilient, how brilliant you are. You are not a statistic. You are every POSSIBLITY you can imagine.

#shinesobright #FosterHopeFosterCare #morethanastatistic #breakingthemold #bethechange #limitless

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JRI Service Navigator

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Rachel has been a part of the JRI team since January, 2000. For over 20 years, Rachel has been working in the field of human services assisting families with accessing and navigating services. Rachel received her Bachelors degree in psychology and Masters Degree in Public Administration from Bridgewater State University. She was promoted in July 2005 to Family Networks Program Director where she closely worked with the Department of Children Families for 10 years ensuring that children and families received the highest quality of individualized services ranging from community based through residential care. Rachel is very dedicated to helping the individuals she works with and is committed to improving the lives of children and families. Rachel’s passion for creative service programming inspires her in her role as JRI Service Navigator.