I think it's reasonable to say that most people have seen Friends in their lifetime and know the characters pretty well. And as people take quizzes and find out which "Friend" they are, there is sometimes a negative connotation with being Rachel Green. Rachel is always the character that I get and I could not be more proud of being a Rachel Green. Let me outline why.
When most people think of Rachel, their immediate thoughts are probably about how she was the artificial character who came from money and didn't know how to do much for herself. She was fluent in spending money, but had never had a real job. Calling someone a 'Rachel', when thinking about that aspect of her, suggests that they have little to them other then looks or money. But that's not the side of Rachel that I see or that I think is noteworthy.
Did we forget about the fact that she came from nothing, yet ended up having her dream job? I mean, sure, her family came from money, but she started in a coffee shop and almost went to Paris for fashion. It's amazing that her work ethic was able to take her that far, and I don't know why people don't immediately associate that with her.
Sure, she stumbles along the way, but we all fall down. At the end of the day, even after many failures, she comes away with everything a girl could want. She gets the job, and she got off the plane, subsequently getting the guy too. Sure, she ran away from her wedding at the beginning to stumble into what many would consider a mess, but she learns from that moment.
Even on a personal level, she does not even still fit into her original stereotype by the end of the series. She puts Emma and her friends first. While she is always concerned with her image, shouldn't we all be on some level? Shouldn't we want to present ourselves well? I don't think that there is any shame whatsoever in doing that.
Rachel also is incredibly committed to her relationships with others. She remains friends with Monica after high school, and even as the two go through different fights and differences, she ultimately still remains friends with her and cares for her. Even with Ross, though they have issues, she still is able to stay with him in the end. That commitment is highly admirable.
I am incredibly proud to get Rachel Green when I ask what Friend I am on different quizzes. If I am able to have her work ethic, her commitment, or even her style one day, I know I will be headed somewhere. Rachel, while shallow at times, is an incredibly complex character that I think deserves credit. So to all the Rachel Greens out there, be proud of who you are and where you're going.
