How do you turn something unspeakably horrible into something positive, life affirming and worthwhile for every human being on the planet?

You might start by following guidelines 17-year-old Rachel Scott left in her journals.

1.  Eliminate prejudice by looking for the best in others
2. Dare to Dream. Set your goals, write down your goals and keep a journal.
3. Choose positive influence in your life. Both of the Columbine High School killers were steeped in violent video games and movies. Simply stated: Garbage in/Garbage out.
4. Say kind words: Small acts of kindness equals a huge impact
5. Start a “Chain Reaction” of kindness and compassion

Joe Howard, principal of Mile High spoke at a parent assembly for Rachel’s Challenge Monday evening. The students had gone to the full presentation earlier in the day.  Howard asked the parents if any of them had noticed a more loving child coming home after school that day. Many raised their hands in affirmation.

Howard was especially pleased with the fact that the idea of bringing the program to Mile High came from a parent. After he and Assistant Principal Jacob Magallanez looked at the program, they decided it was worthy of deeper research. Magallanez went to a presentation of Rachel’s Challenge at another school and came back saying, “Yes, we need to do this.” The problem was the cost. But when Howard approached the schools Parent Teacher Association with the idea, they felt the need to get behind it, and financed the project for the school.

Beth Sharp, who teaches Language Arts at Mile High, is also the advisor for the on-campus Diversity in Action Club. She feels that Rachel’s Challenge dovetails perfectly into the club’s goals. In addition, Sharp lived in the Columbine area when the tragedy occurred, and so feels very close to the events that happened in 1999, and says living so close to the tragedy was life changing. She is always sure to connect with her children each day, even with something as simple as saying "I love you."

Sharp went to the assembly for the students earlier in the day and felt it had a huge impact on them. She said, “There was a lot of deep breathing and some tears in eyes.” She hopes the program will “change people’s minds and attitudes.” She said that the assembly program does not dwell on the perpetrations, but does point out that they had immersed themselves in violent movies and video games. And “what goes in, comes out.” She hopes this program will “Make people think and make kinder choices. Because that’s what it’s all about.”

Prescott Mayor Jack Wilson, along with City Councilwoman Mary Ann Suttles were at the assembly, and sitting in the front row. Wilson took notes throughout the presentation. When asked why he came out on a Monday evening he said, “It’s different. And motivational. I get invited to a lot of different things and I can’t possibly make them all, but I really like to see this kind of thing.” He feels the positive influence is important.

So what’s the bottom line?  Is it possible that a 17-year-old girl’s life and journals can actually impact millions of people all over the world? Her parents, and the people behind Rachel’s Challenge believe so. It’s a grass-roots program, which does not stop at the emotional high and heavy impact left by an assembly. Before the program started approximately 100 students were chosen to be in the K. C. Club (Kindness and Compassion Club.) These students will be keeping the enthusiasm going with random acts of kindness throughout the year, keeping the ideas alive.

As for Rachel Scott, she was organized, a good writer, a clear thinker and had a lot of goals. She was a devout Christian and said things, both to people and in her journal, that some thought were rather startling. She had said to both friends and her sister that she would die young and affect the lives of millions of people. One student interviewed in the program said that the two goals didn’t ever make much sense to him, so he didn’t put much stock in what she said. But, thanks to her family, Rachel’s words are now reaching a whole lot of kids all over the world, and, from the stories told on their website, changing lives for the better.

President George W. Bush was at one of the presentations made by Rachel’s Challenge, and wrote a letter commending the program. Actor Chuck Norris , a friend of Rachel’s father, dedicated one of his books to her.

The goals of Rachel’s Challenge go beyond preventing school violence. Although anti-violence and anti-bullying is at the root of the program, self-improvement is also a large component. Goal #3, Dare to Dream, wants to set kids up for success. Rachel’s brother Craig, who was in the library at Columbine and saw two of his best friends murdered, took a year off from high school to recover from the trauma. After that he decided to set aside the past and work towards the future, setting his goals and following through with them. Currently, in addition to working with his parent’s company, Rachel’s Challenge, he is in post-production on a documentary on amateur wrestling to be released this September. He has stated that he would like to work in the film industry and make good films with a positive message.

According to the Rachel’s Challenge speaker at Mile High, Kellen Hills, even students at Harvard University don't usually see the importance of setting goals and taking them seriously. Harvard did a survey of their students several years ago to see how many of them put their goals down in writing. Only 3% of those surveyed chose to do that. In a follow-up interview several years later they tracked down the former students and were astonished at the results. The 3% who wrote down their goals had an income that equaled 10 times the other 97%; combined. Writing down the goals seems to make them more real, and give people a sense of commitment.

All of these components will be a part of Rachel’s Challenge at Mile High this year. So if you’re walking around town and a student opens a door for you, or is picking up trash on the Square, don’t be too surprised. They might be part of Rachel’s Challenge. And watching them might inspire you towards some random acts of kindness, starting your own “Chain Reaction of Kindness and Compassion.”

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