Rachel's Challenge

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

Rachel Joy Scott


Last Thursday, a change took place at Northbridge High School. Students and staff alike were profoundly affected by a presentation given by Craig Scott, a survivor of the Columbine school shootings and brother of the first victim, Rachel Scott. Having seen the presentation at Hyannis last year, members of the School Council raised the money for it to be brought to Northbridge with the aim of creating a permanent positive culture change and it certainly was a powerful experience; one I will never forget.

On Tuesday, April 20th, 1999, two students at Columbine High School launched an attack which resulted in thirteen fatalities and twenty one injuries. Most of the killings took place in the school library, where Craig Scott was located, and that was also the location where the killers took their own lives. Scott led the survivors out of the library, only to later discover that his sister had been the first to be killed.

Rachel Scott had been the kind of person who sought out isolated students and befriended them. She wrote an essay detailing her vision of creating a 'chain reaction' of compassion, through doing kind deeds for others, and on a drawing of her hands wrote that one day those hands would touch millions of people's hearts. Her family have made this vision a reality. The organisation tours schools and businesses internationally, promoting Rachel's ideals.

The presentations last an hour and are targeted to the given audience (we had different presentations according to age during the school day and a community presentation in the evening). The events at Columbine are only touched upon; the focus is very much upon Rachel's life and her vision. The message is clear: life is short and should be lived to the full. The audience are left with five challenges to accept, these being:

1. Choose positive influences.
2. Dare to Dream (and write down your goals/ keep a journal)
3. Engage in Kind Words and Acts.
4. Look For The Best.
5. Start A Chain Reaction.

Both students and staff can then sign a huge banner to show that they accept the challenges and this banner will be left permanently on display in the foyer, as a reminder to all.

The presentation is followed by a workshop for a select group of students, who will then found a Friends Of Rachel club. These students will be responsibile for implementing the wider cultural changes within the school and will become ambassadors for the Rachel's Challenge message; they are asked to model kindness and compassion in all that they do. Initiatives such as a programme to befriend new students and write letters of thanks to auxiliary staff will be implemented in addition to projects to raise money for charity and make links with less fortunate children globally. Ultimately, the aim is to foster an 'atmosphere of kindness' and ensure that students are provided with character-building opportunities in addition to a standard education whilst at school.

At the workshop, students were asked to say what impact the presentation had had on them. Responses included: "It made me realise I've been mean to people who really didn't deserve it and I'm going to try and change that", "It made me realise it's time to act" and "it made me want to be a better person." I was struck by just how profoundly students were impacted; at the end of each presentation the audience - even the stereotypical 'Jocks' - were openly in tears and the desire to change was audible for the rest of the day. Although Scott lightened the dark content of his presentation with comic moments, he spoke of how the last words his friend heard before being shot that day were words of racial abuse and the last words he spoke were, "I want my Mom." He asked the audience to close their eyes and imagine being on the opposite side of a room to all the people that you care about in the world...and that it is the last time you will ever see them. It was these moments that were the most powerful and which had the most impact on the audience. If the Friends of Rachel group can successfully maintain that mindset then Rachel will not only have succeeded in touching millions of people's hearts, she'll have changed them for the better.

Find out more about what you can do here