Rachel Joy Scott
Who is she?
Rachel Scott was the first person killed in the 1999 Columbine school shooting. She was always nice to everyone, including new students, the mentally challenged, and the loners at her school. If Rachel saw someone sitting by themself at lunch, she would go join them and get to know them. Rachel had a very kind heart and she was always helping anyone who looked like they could use a little kindness in their life. Rachel always knew she was going to die young. She predicted how many people would die that day when she drew a picture of a set of eyes crying, 13 tears fell from these eyes and 13 students were killed in the shootings. Out of the tears, a flower bloomed, which signifies how new things can grow out of death and destruction.
Rachel also traced her hands on the back of her dresser. On one of the hands, she wrote 'These hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott and will one day touch millions of people'. Now, with Rachel's Challenge, her legacy lives on.
What's Rachel's Challenge?
Rachel's Challenge was started by Rachel Scott's father. He wanted to continue Rachel's chain of kindness and spread it through high school's everywhere. Her dad doesn't just want to impact high school students, he wants to impact everyone who has ever been bullied. He also wants to impact everyone who needs a kindness in their life. He has set out to improve the world, one chain link at a time.
Rachel's Challenge:
- Eliminate Prejudice by looking for the best in others
- Dare to Dream - set goals - keep a journal
- Choose your Influences - input determines output
- Kind Words - Small Acts of Kindness = HUGE impact
- Start a Chain Reaction with family and friends
Why should I care?
When you look around do you ever see anyone who looks like they could use a little pick-me-up? Do you help them or just think about helping them? Rachel's Challenge is about taking action and spreading kindness whenever you can. Kindness is the biggest component in this challenge. Rachel always felt that if you were nice to one person and then that person was nice to someone else and so on and so on then you have started a chain reaction of kindness. Be that initial link, you will feel better about yourself.
