Rachel’s Challenge presentation encourages kindness

Columbine victim’s diary essay provides tenets for challenge

People may never know how far a little act of kindness can go, but diary entries show Rachel Scott knew her words would touch the lives of others, creating a ripple effect of kindness all around the world, according to Meichelle Gibson, a Rachel's Challenge public speaker.

On Wednesday, Scott's words touched the lives of students and community members within the Altoona Area School District.

Scott, the first fatality of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, wrote an essay in her diary in which she outlined her ethical code of life. The essay was discovered about a month after her death and became the foundation for Rachel's Challenge, Gibson said.

The challenge, consisting of five goals, encourages leadership traits and acts of kindness. The first step, Gibson said, is to look for the best in others to eliminate prejudice. Other goals include writing down goals in a journal, choosing positive influences, speaking with kindness and encouraging others to start their own "chain reaction" of kindness.

During the school day, many Altoona Area High School students signed their name on a banner, marking their commitment to accept Rachel's challenge. Later in the evening, approximately

30 parents and community members, like city resident Amanda Kessling, signed their names, too.

Kessling said her child belongs to the high school's Friends of Rachel club and said "it would mean a lot" if she signed her name on the banner.

"The whole (presentation was) moving, but the overall message, I know that it can impact a lot of students and have a ripple effect," Kessling said.

According to Gibson, Scott sought out friendships with new students at the school, students with special needs, students being picked on.

During her presentation Wednesday night with approximately 30 people, Gibson showed video clips of Scott's life and shared the stories of the people Scott's words and actions touched.

Several attendees were noticeably wiping away tears from their faces as the videos were playing.

Superintendent Brad Hatch said he was moved by the presentation, adding that the Friends of Rachel club has been "impactful" with creating student leaders. The club operates a Rachel's Closet in the school that offers clothing items and other necessities to students at no cost.

"It's been a commitment we've had that's really made a big difference in our schools, and we're proud to have it," Hatch said.

Hatch said the district's students are showing their commitment to not only embody Scott's message but to "set the tone" for the climate and culture that the district wants to have in its buildings -- promoting kindness, looking out for others and being responsible for one another.

Gibson praised the work of the students and the school's administrators during the public presentation. She said the district's Rachel's Closet -- a full-size classroom in the school -- is "a beautiful, beautiful masterpiece" of showing kindness.

"Your leadership here is so amazing," she said to parents and community members. "You ought to be so proud of what your students are doing."

Gibson said she received many kind words from Altoona Area students earlier in the day.

"One young lady told me that she was going home to tell her dad that she loved him because their relationship wasn't that good and she wanted to do it before it was too late," she said, adding another student said he's going to look for the best in people after accepting Rachel's challenge.

Mirror Staff Writer Matt Churella is at 814-946-7520.