LOUDONVILLE — A slain Colorado High School student’s love of kindness reached into Ashland County this week.
Loudonville-Perrysville Schools students and community members since Monday have learned about Rachel Scott, the first victim of the 1999 Columbine school shootings whose life mission was to spread kindness.
Rachel’s Challenge presenter Erin Jo Harris travelled from Colorado to deliver five presentations to different grade ranges, starting Monday.
Harris also delivered a community presentation Wednesday evening for parents and community members, similar to the one the attended by high school students.
Each presentation was tailored to the students’ ages, but the central message was the same: being kind to others can set off a chain reaction of kind deeds. Each presentation encouraged students to accept certain challenges.
“All it takes is one person’s simple act of kindness to start that chain reaction. To go out of their way, not just a random act of kindness, but a deliberate one to show compassion. Not just to feel compassion, but to actually do something about it,” Harris said.
Students and community members were challenged to:
- Look for the best in others by eliminating prejudice
- Dream big by writing down your goals and keeping a journal
- Choose positive influences
- Speak with kindness
- Start your own chain reaction of kindness
What is Rachel’s Challenge?
Rachel’s Challenge is based on the story of Scott, one of the 16 victims killed in the Columbine school shootings.
Scott believed she could change the world by being kind, according to Harris.
“This program is ultimately not about her death, but about her life. The way that she lived, the way that she knew she would change the world, even though she didn’t do anything the world would necessarily call impressive.
“She was never famous. She was never the star athlete. But the small acts of kindness have left a lasting legacy that is still changing lives to this day,” Harris told the audience.
She wrote in her journals about her beliefs. After her death, her peers and family shared how she practiced kindness in her every day life, eventually challenging others to do the same.
The goal of Rachel’s Challenge is to prevent bullying, violence and suicide by creating a community of kind people.
The program has already served more than 30 million educators, students and parents, according to its website.
School liaison Samantha Thiemens helped initiate Rachel’s Challenge this year to complement the newly implemented Hope Squad.
Hope Squad is composed of students elected by their peers because of their approachability, leadership, kindness and positive attitudes to make a difference in their schools.
Hope Squad members serve as peers who can be trusted allies for students struggling with issues such as bullying, mental health issues and more.
They meet twice monthly with their school liaison and talk about how to manage stress and mental health problems, how to look for it in others and how to reach out.
“We’ve received so much positive feedback and support from the community to implement these and to start this, so we really appreciate all of you for showing up,” Thiemens told the attendees.
After attending the Rachel’s Challenge school assembly, Hope Squad students have already started brainstorming ideas for how to spread kindness in their school and community.
Some of their ideas so far are hanging positive signs in the hallways and bathrooms, inviting law enforcement for a pep rally, making treats for teachers and more.
