“Lauren’s been her refuge. I’ve seen this joy coming back to her.” -KATHLEEN, COURT’S GRANDMOTHER situation continued to be unstable until her grandparents became her legal guardians at age five. When Court’s grandfather passed away suddenly four years later, nine-yearold Court was devastated. It would be up to Kathleen to raise Court on her own. Kathleen had raised three sons on her own from a previous marriage, but she said she knew enough to know that: “As a young girl, you don’t confide everything in your parents. I decided she needed someone else in her life besides me.” It was at that time that Kathleen saw a commercial for Big Sister Boston and decided to enroll Court. Court wasn’t sure what having a Big Sister was all about, and according to Kathleen, Court’s childhood experience had, understandably, made it hard for her to trust or open up to new people. “I was kinda quiet when I first met Lauren,” said Court. “I didn’t tell her anything. I was like ‘I don’t know this person. I can’t open up yet because I don’t know a lot about them and how they work as a person,’ so it was just like one-word answers from me.” Lauren said that the training she received as a Big Sister and the guidance of her Match Support Specialist, Helen, helped her through that first year with Court. “The times I’ve most reached out to Helen, were when Court was going through particularly difficult situations,” said Lauren. “As someone who’s not trained in social work or navigating these situations, I would ask Helen for help navigating them.” Recognizing that it might be easier for Court to write down her thoughts and feelings at, Lauren bought a journal that they would pass back and forth between visits. She would write fun question prompts for Court to answer or encourage her to write about whatever was on her mind. “When we didn’t need the journal anymore, that was a real turning point,” said Lauren. That point came during the second year of
BIG SISTER BOSTON | 2018 ANNUAL REPORT
their relationship. Once Court realized that Lauren was committed to being in her life, she began to let her guard down. “After the first year, I was like, ‘I’ll stick with it, see where it goes,’” said Court. “By the second year I was in it.” Over the past seven years, Lauren and Court’s relationship has played a big part in developing Court’s confidence. “When I was younger, I wanted to be able to read people’s minds to be able to know what people thought of me because I thought people didn’t really like me,” said Court. “I believe in myself now. I know I’m able to be loved and that I’m a good person.” With Lauren by her side, Court has felt more comfortable stepping out of her comfort zone and has had the opportunity to walk the runway in our fashion show and help present our Believe in Girls award to Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton on stage at Big in Boston. Last year, Lauren and Court went to the Boston Pride parade together for the first time. “I loved seeing how confident and happy you were,” Lauren said to Court, who had wrapped herself in a Pride flag and high-fived the parade participants. “The best thing I ever did was sign up Court for Big Sister. I love seeing the confidence she’s gained to open up to someone, let people in, express herself, laugh again,” said Kathleen. “Lauren’s been her refuge. I’ve seen this joy coming back to her.” Now 17, Court is applying to colleges and scholarships with the help of Lauren and our Sister Scholars program. She wants to study psychology so that she can help other kids. And, she wants to become a Big Sister. “I would say it’s a great experience for both Big and Little Sister,” said Court. “You could be sisters for life, like what we’ve decided to do.”
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