Students, teachers, and administrators in Rockingham County’s four high schools recently attended an inspirational and emotional presentation about Rachel Scott, the first victim in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. Rachel, through ordinary acts of kindness and compassion, left an extraordinary legacy of conviction for the impact a single person can have on the lives of others.

The presentation, called Rachel’s Challenge, pieced together Rachel’s diary entries, school papers, and recollections from friends and family to illustrate how Rachel lived in a daily and very deliberate pursuit to further her stated belief that “if one person can go out of their way to show compassion then it will start a chain reaction of the same. “

In a powerful and moving tribute of first-hand accounts, the presenter showed students how the 17-year-old lived by the following five tenets then invited all to follow Rachel’s example in their own lives in order to create a “chain reaction.”

1 – Look for the best in others.
2 – Dare to dream.
3 – Choose positive influences.
4 – Use kind words. Demonstrate acts of kindness.
5 – Start a chain reaction.

For more about the presentation, see rachelschallenge.org

Pictures from East Rockingham High School.