Rachel’s Challenge

There are many things about our world that rob kids of the opportunity to learn compassion and kindness. Technology is an incredible tool, but it is also cold, and the social interactions of kids and adults alike become increasingly faceless and devoid of a human connection. Media also has a role; physical beauty or power are celebrated and kindness, patience, and empathy often portrayed as weakness.

Rachel Scott was a student at Columbine High School when she became the first victim of an event that shocked the world. Since her death as a result of those shootings, her father Darrell has devoted himself to honoring Rachel’s memory by reclaiming kindness and compassion for students and society in general.

Rachel’s Challenge (www.rachelschallenge.org), the organization created in her name, seeks to bring permanent positive change to not only schools, but communities as a whole by starting a “chain reaction” of compassion and kindness. We are so pleased to announce a day-long Rachel’s Challenge event at NBAPS everyone can be a part of.

I hope you will mark your calendar for Sept. 15. Middle and high school students will have assemblies that day, followed by a community-wide event that evening at the high school.

Rachel’s Challenge will challenge you with five elements: eliminating prejudice, daring to dream, choosing influences, words of kindness, and starting a chain reaction in our community.

Schools and communities who have experienced Rachel’s Challenge report positive, long-lasting changes for the better. We live in a wonderful community and I hope you will join us for Rachel’s Challenge and take its message and inspiration into your life and interactions with others.

Couldn’t we all use a little more compassion and kindness in our lives? Through Rachel’s Challenge, we can put those qualities into the world around us knowing that it will come back to us ten-fold. That sounds pretty good to me.

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