Rachel’s Challenge to challenge CHS on Oct. 1
By: Loren Hughes
On Oct. 1, an inspirational program called Rachel’s Challenge is coming to Coppell High School.
The meaning behind Rachel’s Challenge originated when student Rachel Scott, 17, was murdered during the shootings at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Rachel’s Challenge was founded by her father, Darrell Scott, who immediately began speaking about school violence only weeks after his daughter’s death. It is said that the program has prevented suicides, bullying and up to at least three planned school shootings.
“Other schools in the Metroplex started Rachel’s Challenge and reported student change,” associate principal Leanne Dorhout said. “Students who attended the presentation before enjoyed the idea because they liked doing a simple act of kindness to include everyone.”
Rachel’s Challenge is an audio and video presentation aimed at encouraging students to befriend others and become more involved in their school. After the presentation, a session for adults and students called Friends of Rachel’s will be presented to explain how to spread the message.
“I’ve only gotten to see previews and demos thus far, but what I have seen is amazing,” senior Kim Dalrymple said. “I was shocked at how one girl’s dream can inspire a school the size of ours.”
After the meeting, students will be asked if they would like to take Rachel’s Challenge. Those planning to commit will sign a banner which will be left hanging in the school to show they have accepted.
After the day of the presentation, a club called Friends of Rachel will be created, in order to allow students to continue to put themselves in situations to pass on Rachel’s message.
Melanie Hensleigh Parsons, the Friends of Rachel sponsor at Garland High School, has been a sponsor of the club since it was first presented to the school in 2007. Since Garland has a very early school day starting at 7:30 a.m., Friends of Rachel’s participants arrive as early as 6:45 a.m. once a week in order to carry on Rachel’s chain reaction.
“I would say that there have been no massive changes so far but in small ways many have changed,” Parsons said. “It’s something we’ve kept going, a chain of kindness to carry on.”
In addition, on the night of Thursday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in the lecture hall, another presentation will be available for parents or anyone else who like to attend.
To learn more about Rachel’s Challenge visit www.rachelschallenge.org.
this presentation made me regret things i had sayed in the past
I really think Rachels challenge could have a huge impact on CHS. I was really touched, and I only hope this won’t be like the 2000 other assembelys we have where we’re inspired for a day and the next everyone’s back to normal. I like to call it the church camp effect. I think this could have a positive impact on CHS, and I’m really honored that we all got to hear the inspiring story.
i thought that this assembly was one of very few assemblys i actually had to listen too. i thought it was a lot better than any other asembly they bring to us. like the ones that just say no to things like drugs and alchol etc. It was a lot better than i thought it would have been. i was glad they came to speak to us about the bad things that can happen anywhere.
Rachel’s challenge inspired me to be a more generous person. I’ve already been working towards being a more caring, compassionate, dependable, and happy person. But this assembly gave me the final push to know what is right.
This presentation made me want to be a better person and to want to be able to make a difference in others lives
Rachel’s challenge is the assembly people at CHS will remember. Unlike the other meeting we have, we will take her challenges and ideas beyond the day we hear the story. Hopefully, people will follow her advice and we will start a chain reaction that will circle the world.
When I was walking to this assembly with some of my friends, I was just thinking that ‘Oh, it’s just one of those things we see all the time, you know like don’t do drugs, those things that they always pound into your head, something dumb.’
But when I was watching, literally almost cried, and that’s a big thing for me because I’m not really one of those people who is easily moved by things like this. The way they presented it made me really think back on my life and make a decision to watch my actions from now on, and that made a big difference in my outlook on life. Nice job!
Honestly, I went into the gym thinking “Oh, this is just going to be another ‘do’nt do drugs, stay in school, follow your dreams’ presentation”, but when i got in there and actually heard Rachel’s story, I was surprised that it sparked some emotion. Hearing about how someone as good hearted and innocent as Rachel could be killed for doing absolutly nothing really makes you think.
I hope CHS continues to promote Rachel’s Challenge in the future, because this is one presentation I can see really making a positive impact on students.
This program was very powerful and was very influential. It made me feel like I should go out and show my kindness towards others. The differnt videos shown and the quotes explained made me feel the greif of the students, teachers, and families of the victims that day of the shootings. Racheal made clear that through her life, she would make a differnce and touch millions of hearts;she certainly touched mine. Her story is inspirational and hopefully can spread through the world and make it a better place. Coppell High School hopefully will benefit from this enriching assembly and learn that doing the kind thing, might not always be doing the cool thing. It was a real story, a real girl, and a real organization trying to inspire students to finish out what Racheal started. That’s what makes it so enpowering.
I was really inspired when I heard this speech. It made me think about what actions I preform every day and how they impact other people. I have heard the story of colombine many times before but to hear it from this point of view was really inspiring. I hope this message sticks with the students of coppell for a while.
I thought this presentation was very inspiring and moving. I didn’t expect for it to be so emotional and so influential. Rachel’s Challenge is a great program and really makes you think twice about how you treat others and how you live your life on a daily basis. I thought it was so great how she reached out to the guy, Adam, and how she stood up for him when he was being bullied. Also, when she just talked to him with kind words in the hallway, which made him change his mind, and not commit suicide. It just goes to show how the littlest gesture can change someones day, week, or even their life. Hopefully, Coppell High School will gain from this program, began to reach out to others daily, and not to judge others based on apperences, or first inpresstions. After all, we’re all humans, not one better than another, who all have feelings. This was so empowering and I hope they continue to share Rachel’s story to many other schools all around the world.
i guess it was ok… she wouldnt have been famous if she didnt die though.
I am Really inspired by the assembly because it help me want to write down my goals, and inspire me to stick up for people. I really look up to Racheal Scott, how she is such a great person and her Codes of Ethics. You dont really hear a lot about people just like Racheal Scott, and how she impacted so many lifes.
Thank you
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Of course she wouldn’t be as famous if she were still alive, but because of what happened she has made an impact, and that’s what matters.
I was really inspired by Rachel’s Challenge, the presentation was very inspiring and made me think about a lot of things. The best, and most moving, assembly I have ever been to!