Rachel's Challenge: Students encouraged to start a positive chain reaction

By RENEE WEBB. Globe editor
Nov. 30, 2006

Through the story and example of a young woman who was the first person to be killed at Columbine High School in 1999, students in fifth through eighth grade from Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools and St. Michael Grade School in South Sioux City, Neb. received some tips on how they might positively impact the world.

These students participated in a program called Rachel's Challenge on Nov. 28. That night, parents and the community at-large attended an evening session.

The program was presented by Larry Scott, the uncle of Rachel Joy Scott, a 17-year-old student who was killed on April 20, 1999 in the country's worst case of school violence. Thirteen people were killed that day and numerous others were injured.

"Today I'm here to talk about her (Rachel's) life. Her life changed a lot of other people's lives and I think you will be impacted today greatly," Larry told the students.

He mentioned that shortly after Rachel's death, her father discovered a piece of paper under her bed. For a school assignment Rachel had written an essay called, "My Ethics, My Codes of Life." In that paper she spoke of wishing to create a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.

Rachel wrote, "I have this theory that if one person goes out of their way to show compassion, it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go."

The presentation included an emotional video that featured news reports relating to the Columbine shootings and personal interviews of Columbine survivors. Friends and family of Rachel also gave testimony to the young woman's positive approach to life.

Rachel's parents opted to begin this program so that their daughter's message would be proclaimed to others. Larry said they never want to see something like Columbine happen again.

"The program I bring to you today is called Rachel's Challenge because there are five challenges that I will be leaving you with today," said the presenter.

Larry asked the students to try the five challenges that were outlined in the presentation for the next month. After that, they may just become a part of their lives.

The first challenge: Look for the best in others to eliminate any prejudice in your life.

"You have to look for a positive to get rid of a negative in your life," said Larry. "Prejudice simply means that you pre-judge."

He spoke of the harm to judge people and pre-label people before they got to know them or know of their intentions in any way. Larry noted that he hasn't judged people because of their color or nationality, however, he has been guilty of judging people of the attitude he thought they had toward him or the way they have looked at him.

"That's real easy to do, but that is a form of prejudice," he said.

Rachel had urged people to give others at least three chances before they judged or labeled anyone because they may be having a bad day or going through some tough situation.

The second challenge: Dare to Dream for Your Life.

Larry encouraged the students to write down their goals and to keep a journal. A Harvard study showed that people who write down their goals achieve more and make more money.

He told them that Rachel's Dad, his brother, had vowed that her death would not be in vain.

"The simple goal that he wrote has been accomplished. The goal that my brother set to honor Rachel's life has impacted nearly 10 million people," said Larry.

In Rachel's journal she wrote, "Glory only comes when one pursues their dreams."

The third challenge: Choose your influences.

"You are the only one that can determine what goes on in your mind. You need to like yourself enough to be careful about what you see, what you experience and what you do," said the presenter. "Remember the input determines the output."

Rachel had written a note to her cousin, Larry's daughter Sarah, concerning peer pressure. She wrote, "Don't let your character change color with your environment. Find out who you are and let it stay its true color."

The fourth challenge: Kind Words - Small Acts of Kindness.

The teenager was known to reach out to other students who were handicapped, new at school and those who were picked on.

Video footage told the story of friends who were impacted by Rachel. One boy was going to commit suicide because the other students teased him so much, but Rachel gave him hope.

"Right now in your school, there are students who are going through things you have no idea about. They are experiencing things at home, if you can pick up on that and show them a simple act of kindness or a smile to make a difference in their day, you will be the better person for it," said Larry.

The presenter urged them to reach out to students who needed a friend and have the courage to stop bullying.

Larry reminded the students that they had "such power in our words and actions to make a positive or negative difference in the lives of people."

The fifth challenge: Start a chain reaction with family and friends.

Rachel always said that she would die young and impact the world.

On the back of her chest of drawers, her parents had found that Rachel had drawn an outline of her hand and said that she would touch the hearts of many. Among those impacted by Rachel include professional athletes, world-known musicians and even President George W. Bush.

He urged the students to go to the people they cared about most - parents, grandparents and friends - and tell them how much they mean to them.

"This way you can start a chain reaction," said Larry.

Students offered positive comments about the presentation.

"It changes how I think about other people. I don't want to judge anyone the first time I see them," said Mary Goebel, an eighth grade student at Mater Dei, who added that she will try to live by Rachel's Challenges.

Shad Morrical, a fifth grader at Sacred Heart, said he learned how important it was to treat people better. He also plans to try to live by the challenges.

A fifth grader from Holy Cross, Megan Glover, thought the program was neat.

"I thought it was cool how Rachel acted toward people and kept someone from committing suicide," she said. "She made a difference."

After the student presentation, 10 students from each of the schools participated in a leadership training where they learned ways to keep Rachel's Challenges going in the school throughout the year.