Rachel

“Rachel”, came from a large family, but was removed to foster care due to neglect and other difficulties at home. Over the years she had developed a thick shell to protect herself from the outside world. Her self-esteem was low, and she did not have high expectations for herself or from others. Rachel had many issues that were preventing her from blossoming into a motivated, energetic, and optimistic young adult. Instead, she was headed down a path of no hope or direction, with no family support, and at risk for any number of unfortunate outcomes.

Rachel came to Crossroads because it was a more comforting place for her to be in the afternoons than her foster situation. She would sit in our clubhouse and quietly watch TV every afternoon. While our social workers encouraged her to join our afternoon programs, Rachel was shy and unmotivated, and chose not to participate in any activities. She came to hang out at the center for three years, and it was enough for her to have a place to come and feel safe and welcome. She had no financial resources and was too afraid to apply for a job on her own, so she had no money for the things that a teen might want.

A few years ago, Crossroads began offering internships at local businesses in Jerusalem to our teens. We asked Rachel if she might be interested in trying out an internship that was available. Unlike with previous suggestions, this time Rachel was responsive. She sat with our job counselor and wrote out her first resume, completed the internship application process, and interviewed at the local business. She was accepted and began working three days a week with supervision from the Crossroads staff at every step of the process. We met both with the employer and with Rachel on a regular basis to monitor progress and deal with any issues.

The change in Rachel was astounding. For so long she had been a girl who kept her head down, barely smiled, seemed withdrawn and lacked the courage to make the effort to improve her situation. But this internship gave her something she had never had, a chance to prove herself worthwhile and to succeed. She was excited to learn the job responsibilities, was dedicated in her work, and her efforts were evaluated and appreciated. Soon after she began to work, Rachel transformed from a scared young girl to a motivated teen—everyone at the Center noticed the change. She began walking taller and had a new sense of purpose and accomplishment.

It is always a mystery what small support will make the difference. For Rachel, while there had been other opportunities, this internship made that difference and changed her life for the better. Rachel received the right mix of support and opportunity that allowed her to break through her shell, realize her potential, and give her hope for a positive future.

Rachel finished her internship, added work hours to her schedule that are paid for by her employer, and became a regular employee. She recently told the job counselor that she would never have had the courage to apply for a real job on her own. Her experiences this year have given her the tools she can use to reach for her dreams.