By Emma Trapp
Round Table editor
It began as a regular school day at Columbine High School in Colorado on April 20, 1999. The day would come to be known as one of the worst massacres in American history.
Two students entered the school campus with the intent to kill as many students as possible. The first area where they opened fire was the west entrance of the school. Their first victim was Rachel Scott.
No one knows the exact reason why the boys committed such a gruesome crime, but one thing was sure, Rachel’s dad was not going to let the cruelty continue.
Rachel Scott was known to have touched many with her kindness and compassion. Rachel’s father found one of her school essays entitled, “My ethics, my codes of life,” expressing her thoughts on kindness and compassion.
“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,” stated Rachel’s essay.
Darrell Scott, Rachel’s father, read her essay and was touched by her inspiring messages against teen violence and how to prevent it. Darrell Scott was going to make sure that Rachel’s words were to be heard throughout the nation; he started the program Rachel’s Challenge.
Rachel’s Challenge will be coming to Middletown High School to help prevent any future violence or cruelty. With increasing bullying and violence throughout the nation this is exactly what MHS students need.
“We need to stop pretending. It exists here in Happy Valley, and we have to start talking about bullying. If we turn the other way, it will just continue until it escalates into a near-catastrophe, just like Columbine,” said MHS junior Matt Gabb.
Making fun of someone’s clothes, hair, or even the way they talk can affect the person far more then people realize. The pressure to fit in, to be “cool,” can cause teens to lash out in anger.
“People don’t realize how much words can hurt,” said MHS freshman Heidi Cipolla.
Over the past two years the fights at MHS have become more frequent. Staff and students want judgment to stop, but that is a far cry from reality.
Though all violence and judgment can not be stopped, Rachel knew that affecting just one person can be enough. In the same way a rude comment can change someone’s day for the worse, just one kind comment can change someone’s day for the better.
In the MHS cafeteria a banner hangs asking students to accept Rachel’s Challenge and help stop the judgment and cruelty.
“Signing the banner is a nice symbolic way to accept the responsibility of how you treat others is serious,” said Assistant Principal Daniel Mullins.
Rachel’s Challenge “inspires, equips and empowers every person to create a permanent positive culture change.” Rachel knew that the violence needed to stop, and even though she is not here, she is changing the nation one person at a time.
The tears that were once so powerful for the loss of a young girl’s life have changed in to smiles for the millions of deaths that have been prevented by her inspiring words.
