the young & courageous {rachel jeantel}

graduating high school is a big deal for everyone.  but, if you had the last couple of tumultuous years that rachel jeantel has had, graduating high school is a great victory worthy of us celebrating.  rachel was just an  unassuming, typical teenage girl gabbing on the phone with a friend when she got dragged into one of the most controversial cases of this generation.  besides suffering the trauma of losing a close friend in such a dramatic and unnecessary manner, jeantel was also forced to take the national stage and relive her worst moments where she could be ridiculed, manipulated, humiliated and grilled as if she were the criminal.  despite being able to speak more languages than the condescending prosecutor questioning her,  rachel would be portrayed as someone who was ignorant and angry.  the reality is not only is she intelligent and funny, rachel jeantel is brave and loyal.  we thank and applaud her for doing what she could to achieve justice for her friend, for stepping up to her civic duty despite her fears.  congratulations, rachel!  i'm sure you will go on to do great things.