Rachel's Challenge: A Little Bit of Kindness

Rachel Scott always idolized Anne Frank, the teenager whose diary of her  years in hiding with her family in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands become one of the world's best-read books.

And on April 20, 1999, Rachel also became a young martyr, a victim to senseless violence fueled by hate.

Rachel was the first student killed by two classmates at Columbine High School in the nation's worst high school shooting. 

And like Anne Frank, Rachel left behind a diary of her thoughts on compassion, caring and kindness that has touched a generation.

Her message of being kind to others, including those who may all too often feel neglected or ignored, is one of the themes of Rachel's Challenge, a nationwide school program that uses her writings to fight teen violence and bullying.

Gretchen Reed, a friend of Rachel Scott, visited Blackstone Valley Regional Technical High School Feb. 9 to talk to students during the day and to adults in an evening session.

She quoted Rachel's call for a "chain reaction of kindness and compassion.'' 

Not long before her death, Rachel wrote that "People will never know how far a little kindness can go.''

Reed encouraged those attending to take 5 challenges in Rachel's name. They are:

Examine your heart to see what prejudice might be lurking.

By avoiding pre-judging people, which is what prejudice is, we can "look for the best in others,'' she said. "If you look hard enough, you will always see the light.''

Dare to dream, and dare to dream big.

By writing goals down, sometimes in the form of a journal, dreams can be transformed into positive action.

Choose positive influences.

Who you choose as an influence today affects the life you will have tomorrow.

Kind words and little acts of kindness can have huge results.

Sometimes a simple kind word or action can change someone's life, she said. She noted that after Rachel died, people told her parents of times when her kind words and actions made them feel less isolated and more accepted.

Start a chain reaction of love with family and friends. Start by telling them you love them.

If something should happen to them, you will be glad you did. And if something happens to you, they will never forget what you said.