Huntley High Students Take Rachel's Challenge

The legacy of Rachel Scott — the first person killed at Columbine High School in 1999 — touched Huntley High School students who pledged Tuesday to be positive, kind and considerate to each other and to alleviate bullying.

“I think Rachel’s Challenge is a really big deal because most people don’t think about it before they say it,” said one teenage girl. “At the end, I started balling because I know I’ve been guilty of saying horrible things to my friends, even if I was just joking.

Rachel’s Challenge consists of an hour-long assembly that introduces Scott and the inspiring words in her diaries, which her family discovered after her death in the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999.

The 17-year-old had a premonition that she would die at a young age. A passage in her diary has helped shape the 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," she wrote.

Huntley High students learned about her life and the five principles of the challenge. One of the challenges is to use the power of positive gossip and treat people as they would like to be treated.

Later, moderator Kristi Krings led a group who will form the Friends of Rachel club and trained teens how to help make the program work at the school.

“This isn’t just a club,” Krings said. “This is a way of life for you.”

Krings asked students to talk about how the Rachel’s Challenge affected them.

One student talked about the death of his father and how the experience taught him to “live every minute like it’s your last.” Rachel’s Challenge reinforced that because Scott felt she would die young and spent her days doing good.

Krings shared her own story, exploring how her life almost took a different turn in high school. What saved her was a phone call from a friend who simply had been thinking about her and asked how she was doing.

“She was my Rachel,” Krings said. “I work for Rachel’s Challenge because I want every one of you to have a Rachel in your life.”

During the smaller assembly, Krings explained that no one ever thinks they are a bully. The stereotype is like The Simpson’s character Nelson Muntz. Everyone, at one time, has done something that could be classified as bullying, she said.

“Bullying is an attitude,” she said. It is having a laugh at someone’s expense or gossiping about someone or teasing someone, she said.

The students gathered for the club told Krings how teens are being mistreated at Huntley High. Cyberbullying was at the top of the list, following by talking behind others’ backs, spreading rumors and judging others. One girl said she people say things online that they would never say to your face. She didn’t know what to do about the situation.

A reason behind the bullying is usually fear, Krings said. The tormentors may have something going on in their lives and may feel like no one has ever reached out to them.

What if students reached out to someone who looked like they needed help? she asked The student leaders in the club could be someone’s Rachel, she said.

“I know you can do it,” Krings said. “Do you have the courage to do it?”

For more coverage on Rachel's Challenge at Huntley High School, click here for Huntley Voice online.