How Numbers Hold Our Story-a writing by Jan Goings
This piece was written for Curiosity Friday and was shared May 2025. Please enjoy this writing - How Numbers Hold Our Story, by Jan Goings
2422800. This number was my mother’s work number. When my siblings and I were old enough to arrive home after school on our own we would call Mom to let her know we were fine. Mom was just about 10 minutes away so a call to her would also help us figure out how much time we had before she arrived. Believe me, we could get into some mischief, so we needed lead time to reset the house before we heard the garage door open. Decades later I knew this number, it has been etched into my memory.
6505. That was the address of my first home. 6505 makes me think of playing outside, riding bikes, and where I tripped over the sidewalk trying to catch butterflies resulting in stitches in my belly.
Another number that is seared in my memory is my ACT score, I only took it once and it was good enough for me to be accepted in the college of my choice. Believe me, it was a very modest score, but it opened the door to new opportunities and told me I was slightly above average compared to my peers.
A phone number, an address, and test score are just numbers but for me, they hold significant value: family, independence, safety, achievement, trust, identity, freedom. These values come with stories and rich shared memories that I cherish.
This year, Starfire is on a learning journey focused on data equity. We are exploring questions such as.…What numbers do we need? Who gives this data meaning? How do we capture the stories behind the numbers? Is there a holistic way to evaluate our work? How do we build our capacity for this? What processes and tools will we need? And more questions.
Ultimately, numbers are more than just symbols; they document our journeys, capturing the essence of our experiences and reminding us of the values and memories they represent.
In a data-driven world, numbers represent not just individuals but also the broader narratives of our communities, highlighting needs and successes. Ultimately, numbers are more than just symbols; they document our journeys, capturing the essence of our experiences and reminding us of the values and memories they represent.
To think on: What numbers will we be able to recall decades later? What affirming value will they have and to whom? How may we connect on deeper levels and appreciate the rich history that shapes our lives and collective narratives?
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