 "Photo: Wayne Biebel")
On April 16, the Edinboro University Student Government Association (SGA) sponsored "Rachel's Challenge," a powerful presentation dedicated to the memory of Rachel Scott, who was the first person killed on April 20, 1999 in the Columbine High School shooting.
In an essay written a month prior to her death, Rachel challenged her readers to start "a chain reaction" of kindness, encouraging others to become more aware of the impact of a positive attitude.
Since her death, the Scott family has decided to share Rachel's story with high schools and colleges across the country. They are using her essay to create Rachel's Challenge, a five-step challenge that asks students to pick up Rachel's torch.
Craig Scott, former Columbine High School student and brother of the late Rachel Scott, spoke on behalf of his sister in the presentation, which was geared toward spreading her doctrine of kindness and good deeds to young people within the education system.
This presentation challenged students to follow Rachel's example, actively working for a kinder atmosphere in the school setting.
During his presentation, Craig showed video of news coverage from the Columbine shooting, several interviews of people touched by Rachel's story and his own real-life accounts of the tragic massacre. Also, Craig outlined the five steps to Rachel's Challenge.
Craig said that the shooters responsible for his sister's death had chosen negative influences in their lives, that they had become disconnected from society and that these factors created anger and bitterness that eventually led to their deadly actions.
For this reason, Craig believes that it is important for students to choose positive influences, entertaining themselves with uplifting media, books and even people. "Whatever you put your focus on, you give power to," he cautioned.
Next, Craig encouraged students to "dare to dream."
He asked them to keep a journal, writing down their personal goals and dreams as Rachel did. Through writing, Craig said, students can explore their personal beliefs and their own moral code. Once this system of beliefs is solidified, however, students must hold on to it in every social situation. "Don't let your character change color with your environment," Rachel once wrote in a letter. "Find out who you are and let it stay its true color."
Also, Craig stressed the importance of strong "heart and head education," meaning that students should not only focus on learning at a literal level, but also that they should understand the complexities of what is morally right and wrong.
Craig firmly believes that this lack of appropriate "heart education" played a huge role in the events leading to Rachel's death.
The third part of Rachel's Challenge emphasized the main theme of the presentation: using kind words and small acts of kindness to make a difference. "Your attitude has the power to change other people's attitudes," Craig stated. He then later added: "How you treat people says a lot about who you are."
Craig explained that his sister treated others with respect and because of that she had a positive impact on the world around her.
"Looking for the best in people is a leadership skill," Craig said in reference to the fourth element of Rachel's Challenge. He asked students to eliminate all their prejudices, not just racial judgments. He stressed the importance of getting to know people and finding the good in them, no matter what their outward appearance may be.
The final component of Rachel's Challenge, Craig explained, was forgiveness. He asked the students in attendance to close their eyes and consider the people in their lives who require forgiveness. Also, he encouraged students to forgive themselves for past wrong-doings.
A banner was placed in the entry hall of the auditorium for students who wished to pledge to Rachel's Challenge. "Rachel lived her life and left her legacy, one of kindness and compassion," Craig said, encouraging others to do the same. If students join this challenge, sharing the gift of love with their fellow students, in the words of Rachel, "[They] just may start a chain reaction."
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