Rachel’s Challenge

Written By: Molly Spence

As of April 19, 2023, there have been 14 school shootings that ended in tragic losses or severe injuries, here in the United States since January 1st, 2023. In 2020, there were a whopping 96 school shootings, nationwide. But in 2021, that number skyrocketed to 202 school shootings. There have been 2,067 school shootings since 1970. Pennsylvania is in the top 10 states with the highest number of school shootings, with 54. According to a  survey result, one-third of students reported that they do not feel safe at school. And all of those students surveyed reported they need more social-emotional support and mental health support. (safeandsoundschools.org) I encourage you to read this but do know viewer discretion is advised, but it is very logical and statistical information, it is solely meant to demand some sort of change. This is the second installment of my new series. So I ask all of you the question, what’s more important, protecting the children’s lives when something actually happens or preventing these disasters from even happening in the first place? 

There is an organization called Rachel’s Challenge. Rachel’s Challenge is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2001, 2 years after the Columbine massacre. It helps spread safety, love, kindness, and assurance through school district leaders and their students. Marion Center could really use this program. Rachel’s Challenge can stop bullying and self-harm and negativity in the educational environment. Rachel’s Challenge was created after a young girl, Rachel Joy Scott (left), was shot and killed in the Columbine school shooting she spread kindness across the school, the organization was created in remembrance of her and all of the other victims, to live the kind way and not the hate way. Rachel left journals about life and how she wanted to start a chain reaction of kindness. She was born in Denver on August 5, 1981, and her life was wrongfully taken from her on April 20, 1999, during the massacre. Rachel wrote about everything in her life, but she lived it and she was happy with the life she had, even though it was cut short. “Look hard enough and you will always find a light, and you can even help that light grow.” was one of her most famous quotes from one of her six diaries. When she was 13 years old, she traced the outline of her hands on the back of her dresser, and wrote within the outlines, “These hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott and will someday touch millions of people’s hearts.”

Rachel had a passion for acting, she was the main character in the Columbine spring play, the year of her death. The organization envisions schools to be safe, to be full of hope, to be free from any type of harassment, where students can learn and teachers can teach.

Rachel’s Challenge doesn’t go after the shooters, they address the root, as I said before, bullying, self-harm, or discrimination. The organization builds community through student wellness programs to extend students’ hope and resilience. By bringing people together, Rachel’s Challenge eliminates isolation, harassment, and teen suicides. This program ignites the hope in students but also brings them together to create change in social environments. As Rachel’s legacy lives on through this program, lives are being saved. Whether those lives are from suicide, teen violence, or gun violence, lives are being saved, and that is the most important part. By introducing this program to our school district we can be the change the world needs because, after all, it starts with us. When we start it, it’ll spread in waves. We can start the chain reaction, but it starts with you. You can be the future, you can help us start the chain reaction. 73% of Generation Z (1990-2010) feel alone sometimes or all of the time. Suicide is the second leading killer for 12-18-year-olds. We, as a school district, can do our best to change this. By working together we can end this cycle of teen culture, and we can rewrite our own teen culture. 

Marion Center could really, really, really use Rachel’s Challenge. As Miss Hafera says, “When I returned to the classroom from working with the public for nearly twenty years, I wanted to offer my students a way to interact with each other and with me that would help them develop their mindsets and grow their compassion so that as they can contribute to a positive, safe school community. I believe that kindness builds community and so my motto became “Be Kind of Heart.” All of the rules in my classroom circle back to that simple statement. And I believe it works. Students may think it’s silly at first, but over time, I truly believe, that at least in my room, they accept that kindness is the measure by which all work is accomplished. 

As I read about Rachel’s Challenge I was moved by her story. I had just graduated from high school when the Columbine school shooting happened.  Stories like Rachel’s still inspire me today. She was so young when her life was taken, but in her life, she found a way for her acts of kindness to have an impact. I want my students to know that even when it seems like they have little to no control over the big picture of their lives, the good deeds they do matter. I want them to remember me and my class for the kindness we apply to build our community, but most importantly I want them to remember the positive impact that their kindness has on themselves, their school, and their community.”

So, the real answer is, neither are anywhere near as important as stopping the problem at the root. With that answer comes more questions. Where do we start? How do we as the student body improve the lives of those struggling? How do we change the system? How do we do this? How can I help? How do we do this together? Well, we can start by using kindness towards others. We can help improve those who are struggling by simply helping them whether they’re your friends or not. We can change the system by treating people kindly and eliminating bullying. We can do this but we have to do it together, you can help by spreading kindness and doing your part in the community, all together, we can stop the stigma and help others end the trauma that comes along with the stigma. So the new question is, will you do your part and start the chain reaction to end this cycle? Will you Accept The Challenge?