The father of a Columbine victim spoke about his daughter’s life and the aftermath of the tragedy at an assembly titled, “”Missing Students: Columbine Revisited”” on Oct. 24. The UCSD chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ hosted the event.
Guardian
Darrel Scott had two children at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., on April 20, 1999, the day of the shooting. His 17-year-old daughter, Rachel, was gunned down in the library. Craig Scott, Rachel’s younger brother, was also in the library, but managed to survive.
The event featured video footage from NBC News compiled into a commemorative presentation, as well as Scott’s discussion of the particulars of the shooting.
“”Sometimes in tragedies, we can find the seeds of hope and the seeds of change,”” Scott said.
In memory of his daughter, Scott and his wife Sandy have started The Columbine Redemption, a nonprofit organization designed to change the conditions in our country’s schools that allowed this tragedy to transpire. A large part of this organization is based around a nonviolence program called Rachel’s Challenge, according to the organization’s mission statement on the official Web site, http://www.columbineredemption.com.
Scott spoke about an essay his daughter wrote for her fifth-period class months prior to her death. Her teacher gave an open-topic assignment, and Rachel chose to write about her personal code of ethics.
“”If one person goes out of their way to reach out to someone else, it will start a chain reaction,”” Scott said, summarizing part of the essay. “”Rachel had this idea that the first three impressions of a person can be wrong. We should not judge people based on those impressions.””
The Rachel’s Challenge program is based largely on the ideals of this essay and other writings left behind by Rachel.
Rachel’s Challenge is an assembly program for junior high and high schools designed “”to stop the whirlwind of student life and to bring [your] students face-to-face with reality,”” according to the program Web site, http://www.rachelschallenge.com. The goal is to “”help encourage and equip them to reach out to the hurting within their sphere-of-influence.””
The program uses video footage, personal interviews with Columbine survivors and professionally trained speakers.
Rachel wanted to be a famous actress, to touch people’s lives and to be a missionary, according to her father. This program, and his tours across the country to church groups and schools, are his way of fulfilling his daughter’s dream.
“”My daughter’s life and death will not be in vain”” Scott said.
Though Oct 24’s assembly in the Price Center Ballrooms was a religious event, Rachel’s Challenge is separate from the ecclesiastical tours made by Scott and his wife.
“”Rachel’s Challenge is a totally secular program meant to promote compassion and understanding,”” Scott said.
At the conclusion of Scott’s speech, he challenged those present to accept Rachel’s Challenge.
“”I challenge you to reach out to someone over the next three days who has touched you,”” said Scott. “”Realize that life is short, make it count.””
Rachel once wrote the following on an art project for school, which has now become one of the program’s slogans:
“”Tomorrow is not a promise but a chance.””
