Tragedy struck in Colorado on April 20, 1999 at Columbine High School. This became the worst high school shooting in American history.  Fifteen innocent people lost their lives that day: twelve students, one teacher, and two student gunmen.  The victims included Daniel Rohrbourgh, Cassie Bernall, Steven Curnow, Corey DePooter, Keely Fleming, Matthew Kechter, Daniel Mauser, Rachel Scott, Isaiah Shoels, John Tomlin, Lauren Townsend, Kyle Vasquez, and teacher Dave Sanders.  The first person that was murdered in this tragedy was a seventeen year old junior, Rachel Joy Scott, who just wanted to make a difference in the world.

At the age of thirteen, Rachel traced her hands on the back of her old dresser and wrote, “These hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott, and will someday touch millions of people’s hearts.”  Approximately one month before Rachel was killed, she wrote an essay called, My Ethics, My Codes of Life which can be found at www.rachelschallenge.org. Her goal in writing this piece was to encourage people to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion, and show how much one person’s action can make an immense difference in the world and on an individual’s life. Rachel also encouraged that people look for the best in others. She once said, “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.”

In order to spread the story and spread compassion and kindness like Rachel wished for, Rachel’s father, Darrell, created Rachel’s Challenge. Speakers go around the world and encourage the spread of compassion and kindness through every action, every day.  The speaker’s purpose is to “inspire, equip and empower every person to create a permanent positive culture change in their school, business, and community by starting a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.” Through research the professionals discovered that if they begin and get the students’ hearts in the challenge, their mind will come easily.  President George Bush stated, “We will change America one soul at a time and build a culture of service, citizenship, and respect.” Rachel’s Challenge has already been spread to 3300 schools in America and six other countries; 11,000,000 people have been informed of Rachel’s Challenge.  In 2008, schools rated the program a 9.7 out of a possible 10, along with a 98 percent recommendation rate.

For more information please visit www.rachelschallenge.org.