Last week, I had my sojourn with the American judicial system -- otherwise known as jury duty. When I told people that I'd gotten a summons, they groaned on my behalf. Some apologized, some snickered. Others told me I should try to "get out of it" -- like it's that easy, or worth it, to just Houdini yourself out of a civic duty.

And yes, it's totally fair to be pissed, outraged and confused about "justice" and the apparent lack of it in the world right now. Look at some of the major headlines of the last few years -- Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman, Eric Garner and Mike Brown -- and there's no doubt these stories have left a deeply bitter taste in the mouths of so many, including my own.

But the judicial system's ability to suck sometimes only makes it that much more our duty, especially as young people, to work toward fixing it. That starts with the little things -- like not losing your summons (which I'm guilty of) and making a real effort to give a sh-t during jury duty.

Here are some of the things I promise you'll take away:

You'll Learn Lots Of Cool New Words -- 'Reasonable Doubt' Isn't Just A Great Jay Z Album

If you've watched "Law & Order" or "CSI," you're probably already familiar with some legal jargon like "burden of proof" and "cross-examination." As you'll find out in jury duty, "reasonable doubt" isn't just a really, really good Jay Z album. It means that if you don't have enough evidence to find someone guilty, beyond your own instinct (however strong it is), you can't find that person guilty. And that's what justice should look like.

It'll Make You A More Patient Person

After you hear the prosecutor and the defense's cases, all the witness testimonies, etc., you and your fellow jurors go into "deliberation," where you politely debate whether or not you think the person on trial is guilty of the crime(s) or offenses they're charged with.

This could take five minutes or it could take days, depending on the case and depending on the group of people in the jury. Don't be all like, "Why can't we just finish this now so I can go home and Instagram my dinner/fold my laundry/binge-watch old episodes of 'True Detective?'" While all of those things are certainly tantalizing, it's important to remember that a person's future is in your hands. A few hours of your life could directly impact the entirety of another person's, and that's pretty heavy stuff.

(Speaking of heavy stuff, you should still watch season one of "True Detective" when you get home. It is a masterpiece.)

You'll Learn What Justice Looks Like -- And It's Not An Episode Of 'Law & Order'

Jury duty will inspire you to think introspectively, and that's a good thing. If you were on trial -- even through no fault of your own -- wouldn't you want to be judged fairly? Our system, which is undoubtedly imperfect, can only improve through a commitment to having an open mind -- to hearing all sides of a case and making a thoughtful conclusion.

So the next time you get a juror summons in the mail, tell your boss, your mom, dog, etc. -- do whatever you need to do. But bring an open mind and most of all, an open heart.