MILL CREEK – There could be fewer empty lunch tables, fewer taunts in the locker room and more smiles in the hallways at local high schools.
Dan Bates / The Herald
Students representing 23 area schools took “Rachel’s Challenge” at Henry M. Jackson High School on Wednesday to show respect, compassion and kindness to those around them.
“There’s so much hate out there, and one person can make such a difference,” Phuong Nguyen, 17, a senior at Cascade High School, said after the program.
“It makes me want to include more people – sit by someone who’s alone at lunch and make their day better.”
“Rachel’s Challenge” stems from the life of one of the 13 victims of the April 20, 1999 Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colo. Among the many things Rachel Scott wrote was a class essay that challenged readers to start “a chain reaction” of kindness.
It mirrored her own life as a girl who went out of her way to reach students being teased or left out.
It also stood in sharp contrast to the “chain reaction” Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold spoke of before a video camera in a basement before shooting their classmates and a teacher to death, then taking their own lives.
Out of that tragedy, Scott’s family formed the nonprofit group Columbine Redemption to carry out her vision and prevent school violence. “Rachel’s Challenge” brings the group’s message to public schools.
The program challenges teens to examine their prejudices, make wise decisions about what influences they allow into their lives, and reach out to others.
Scott Dodge, a friend of the Scott family, gave a speech to Jackson students for the school’s annual diversity assembly in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Then a follow-up program with 200 students from the 23 schools further drove home the lessons.
“As a leader, if you want the people who are following you to walk, then you have to be willing to run,” Dodge told the group, a mix of student body officers and student leaders.
Students capped the day with thoughts about how to take the message back to their schools.
There also was talk about what others are doing.
Monroe High School, for example, is giving out unity bracelets this week to students who sign a pledge to be respectful of others.
Lake Stevens High School had a Mix It Up Day where students switched lunch tables to meet new people.
Snohomish High School held an all-day “Breaking Down the Walls” program, pulling students together through activities and games.
But mostly, students focused on what they could do personally to lead by example and become better people.
“My goal right now is not to judge people and give them a label. Judging people because of the way they look, dress or act doesn’t tell you anything about them,” said Chans Kong, 16, a Lynnwood High School junior.
“Ultimately, we learn about ourselves,” added Therese McGee, 17, a Jackson junior.
Monroe sophomore Kelsey Gibson, 15, said the benefits of personal acts of kindness can be profound.
“If everyone did, it would change our school in amazing and great ways,” she said.
Reporter Melissa Slager: 425-339-3465 or mslager@heraldnet.com.
Speeches planned
What: A speech by Darrell Scott, father of school shooting victim Rachel Scott and founder of Columbine Redemption, a nonprofit organization established in her memory.
Where: Gold Creek Community Church, 4326 148th St. SE in Mill Creek.
When: 6 p.m. Saturday, 9 and 10:30 a.m. Sunday
More information: www.goldcreek.org, www.rachelscott.com
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