i reflect back to the day when i hold my boyfriend hat to smell him into existence in my time alone when i be 16. the little moment of this film be so accurate and right on pace with what be go on in the mind and heart of young girl during those come of age teenage year . now at my age i want to preach to them about their decision and how life during those time be not as important a it all seem in those moment . that if they can be patient in their youth and wait to experience the hardship of life both external and internal that life would be so much sweeter . but then again young people today be face with some variable that i never have to deal with a youth . the three main character well play by all three actor ( kerry wahington lanisha and anna simpson joycelyn and melissa martinez maria ) give u the very believable depiction of a piece of reality for young girl live in impoverished situation . they have impoverish family live all be raise by single mother with expectation of lanisha whose father be present but not actively support her day to day . the have impoverish educational system and lack direct contact with achieve role model . these situation powerfully affect them and be their reality but all this be of no great depressive concern to these young woman in their day to day . they except their plight and focus on the same thing young girl all over the world be concern with . find true love in a male and have good friend that you can depend on and gain some respect or love and responsibility from parent and enjoy life . this be be this film cross the race and age and gender gap impose upon it by it character and the setting in which it be stamp . the director and writer mckay explain on the dvd how each of scene get into his head and by just observe young people of that age that live in those type of neighborhood . plus you add three up and come actress who be not so far remove from that time in their own life that you get a real good synergy of reality and act at it best . the one thing i know about ( african american and hispanic ) be that there be always a spiritual family member or neighbor that be in the foreground or near ground believing in a good day and good life and future in spite of the present situation and be role model that to some extent . this be never touch in the movie in order not to preach and i understand that but it also narrow the culture to have no hope in anything other than themselves . the hope factor represent i now think about my future and where i have come from and say a lanisha do ` today be a good day . yes poverty still exist and racism and sexism and and any other ism that we can add . yes some of each of these young girl action perpetuate the ism and be self destructive and everything around them be impoverish but none of those action past or neither present nor their environment leave them without hope for a bright future . i be leave with saddened hope of each of the character and a deep desire to be a role model in the life of some young girl on the edge of make a destructive decision . i suppose that be the value of film it should not only entertain but cause each of u to think and reflect and then act in some positive way to make this world a good place .