Trayvon Martin’s mother, Sabrina Fulton, was in attendance as Rachel Jeantel walked across stage dressed in a white cap and gown to collect her high school diploma.
“Her coming is like having Trayvon there saying, ‘You did it. You proved people wrong,’” said Jeantel.
Jeantel, the close friend of Trayvon Martin and key witness in his trial, keeps the commitment she said she made him when she was presented her diploma Friday, May 30.
“I did it,” Jeantel said. “The witness who didn’t know how to speak English knows how to speak English through the 12th grade now. I never quit.”
She also earned her driver’s license a few months ago and is looking for a job. The plan is for Jeantel to continue working with tutors on precollege curriculum before enrolling at a university. Becoming a clothing designer could be in her future.
Crossing the stage on Friday “is just the beginning of my life,” Jeantel said.
Will Jeantel choose to enroll at a historically black college or university?
On the “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” host and HBCU advocate Tom Joyner offered Jeantel a “full ride scholarship to any HBCU [she’d] like.”
“If you want to graduate from high school, and go to a HBCU, even if it’s not in Florida but especially Florida, like Florida Memorial, Edward Waters or FAMU, if you want to do that, I want to help you do that,” said Joyner.
Jeantel took to Twitter thanking Joyner and her family, friends and supporters who helped her come out of the tragic incident:
I thank everyone for congratulations me this means so much — Ms.Rachel Jeantel (@MsRachel_94) June 2, 2014
Class of 2014 …….back to business
— Ms.Rachel Jeantel (@MsRachel_94) May 31, 2014
Tommy Meade Jr. is HBCU Buzz‘s Editor in chief. Follow him on Twitter.
Like ‘the Buzz’ on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
