"Rachel's Challenge" Shows Students the Power of Compassion

“I want to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion that will make a ripple around the world.” -- Rachel Joy Scott, 16, the first victim of the Columbine High School shootings in 1999

In honor of Scott’s philosophy of kindness and compassion, “Rachel’s Challenge,” a national program designed to defuse bullying, depression and prejudice in the school environment, has been created.

Developed six years ago by Scott’s friends and family, the program visits schools by invitation to spread Scott’s message in a series of assemblies, trainings and curriculum measures.  

The video, a documentary chronicling the Columbine tragedy, features interviews with Scott’s family and friends and excerpts from her writings and the philosophy. 

“Compassion is the greatest form of love humans have to offer,” Scott wrote.  “My definition of compassion is forgiving, loving, helping, leading and showing mercy for others.  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.  People will never know how far a little kindness can go.”

During the film, which was moderated by the Scott family’s friend and advocate Colleen Kirk, direct comparisons are made between Scott and historical figures like Anne Frank and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In one split screen, a page of Anne Frank’s diary is juxtaposed with a page from Rachel’s writing, as the moderator notes that both girls had premonitions of an early death: 

“It’s a wonder I haven’t abandoned all my ideals.  They seem so absurd and impossible.” -- Anne Frank

“My codes may seem like a fantasy that can never be reached.”  --Rachel Scott.

One of the first Essex County schools to participate in the program was Bloomfield’s middle and high schools.  Superintendent Jason Bing and Katherine Martinez, Director of Instruction and Testing for the district, arranged for the program to visit Bloomfield on January 25 and 26. 

“Mr. Bing came to me and said, I’d like to do this in Bloomfield,” said Martinez at the Rachel’s Challenge assembly on the evening on January 25.  “We had two assemblies this morning and two in the middle school, and now this one tonight for senior students and the community.”  In addition to the assemblies, teachers worked with students on related projects and discussion forums based on the video.

To be sure, Scott's extraordinary empathy and message of peace and hope brought joy to those around her during her lifetime and continues to inspire people even after her death.  At Bloomfield High School on Thursday and Friday, students said she was an inspiration to them.  

“I cried when [Kirk] told us to close our eyes and think about people we love, and what was the last thing they said to you,” said 9^th grader Andy Afful on Friday in the school cafeteria.  “I thought about my mom.  When I went home [after seeing the film] I told my mom I loved her.”

Afful’s friend Harley Sieunarine said the experience had the same effect on him. 

“I think it was powerful, inspirational and touching.  I learned that a little kindness can go a long way,” said 11^th grader Tyrone Pierre.

On Friday, the day after the video presentation, students were in the cafeteria signing a banner signifying that they accepted "Rachel's Challenge" to show kindness and compassion toward others.  In addition to signing the banner, the students participated in the Challenge by writing their own kind deeds on strips of paper and looping them together to form a “chain of compassion.”  Eventually, the school hopes the chain would be long enough to span the circumference of the cafeteria.

“It was very emotional for a lot of them.  They’re realizing that what they say and do can have a profound effect on someone,” commented BHS guidance counselor and Anti-Bullying Coordinator, Cindy Sherman, who was supervising the banner signing.  “You can make or break someone’s day in a matter of seconds.  It literally is a chain reaction.”