Assembly Challenges Students to Start Positive 'Chain Reaction'

Some students were brought to tears Thursday afternoon after attending an all-school, anti-bullying assembly called Rachel’s Challenge.

Rachel Joy Scott was the first person murdered during the Columbine High School shootings in April 1999. My Ethics, My Codes of Life, the six diaries and essay that Rachel left behind, demonstrate how she was an advocate against bullying, and how she hoped to create a “chain reaction” of kindness and compassion.

The Rachel's Challenge assembly is based on her writings and the tragedy that occurred at Columbine High School 12 years ago. Two student killed 13 people and injured 21 others before the pair took their own lives.

Last year, former dean Megan Kolze and Dean of Students Brian Stortz had taken a stand against bullying and began looking for a positive way to promote positive decision-making and anti-bullying. They learned about Rachel’s Challenge.

“We have good kids at , but it’s good to hear this message from someone other than us,” said Kolze. She is now dean of students at Glenbrook South but came back to see the presentation.

“It was good to come back and see it,” she said. “I hope to bring this to Glenbrook South.”

Presenter Doug Brandl described in detail the events that played out during the attack on Columbine High School by the two student assailants, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.

“Rachel decided to eat her lunch outside on the lawn with her friend that day,” said Brandl. She was the first one shot and killed in the massacre that day, and four bullet holes were found in her sixth and final diary.

Original footage from the newscast was used, as well footage from interviews with those who survived.

“The library was the scene of the most intense shooting,” said Brandl.

Rachel’s brother, Craig Scott, was in the library and was huddled next to his two friends who were shot and killed right in front of him. Craig’s life was spared.

Brandl began to talk about the six diaries and essay Rachel's parents found and how her words have now touched more than 16 million people all over the world.

She was compared to Anne Frank, a young girl who wrote a diary while hiding with her family from the Nazis during World War II, before they were found out and taken to a Nazi concentration camp. Just like Rachel, Frank died at a young age but left a legacy with her words.

Two quotes were compared side by side:

• "I want to go on living even after my death." — Anne Frank

• "I’m going to have an impact on the world." — Rachel Joy Scott

Inspired by Rachel’s writings, five challenges were presented to everyone in attendance at the assembly.

1. Look for the best in others.
2. Dream big.
3. Choose positive influences.
4. Speak with kindness.
5. Start your own chain reaction.

After Rachel’s death, hundreds of people contacted her parents and shared how Rachel’s kindness affected their lives, Brandi said.

A girl named Amber was new to school and knew no one. She was alone walking the halls, and no one had made an effort to talk to her. She was sitting alone in the cafeteria and Rachel came up to her and invited her to join her friends at their table. Amber said no because she “was scared,” and instead, Rachel grabbed all of her friends and they came and sat with Amber at her table, said Brandl.

Excerpts from her diary were displayed on the big screen that read:

• “I won’t be labeled as average.”

• "I had my ups and downs and I fell a few times, but I did not give up.”

At the end of the presentation, Brandl asked everyone to close their eyes and picture the five to seven people that they love most in the world.

“In the next three days, tell them how much you love them and speak from the heart,” said Brandl.

A short video was played with images of Rachel as a little girl, with her family, with her friends, and her writings. Some students wiped tears from their eyes during the video.

Students signed a banner related to starting the positive “chain reaction” that Rachel wrote about it.

“If the presentation touched one person today, then it was all worth it,” said Principal Kim Kolze.

“It was really touching and it makes you rethink your life, acting with more kindness and helping people out,” said junior Vivian Mui.

“I think it was an eye-opening experience, making you notice how you should care and respect others,” said senior Kyle Callender.

An evening presentation also held at for the community and parents.