Just days before she was killed in the Columbine High School shooting in 1999, Rachel Scott submitted an essay that discussed her views on life. She wrote, “I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same.”

The theory of a 17-year-old from Colorado is now a challenge to citizens of the world, including hundreds of Brentwood students, to be better people.

Scott’s family founded the nonprofit organization Rachel’s Challenge to help spread their daughter’s theory that a simple act of kindness can go a long way. Rachel’s Challenge speaker Adam Northam visited each middle school in Brentwood last week, as well as Heritage High School, delivering Rachel’s message, a message only truly realized after she died. By reading Rachel’s six diaries following her death, her family discovered that Rachel had a dream to change the world by teaching others the importance of compassion and love, and now Rachel’s Challenge has been presented to more than 10 million students in the United States.

The Challenge urges students to focus on five goals: treat others the way you want to be treated; dream big and believe in yourself; appreciate everyone – mock no one; embrace the power of positive gossip; and forgive yourself and be forgiven.

“The students have really embraced the challenge,” said Edna Hill Principal Kirsten Jobb. “The presentation that introduced Rachel’s story and her belief in being kind to everyone really touched the hearts of many of our students. It was an inspiration.”

At the end of each presentation, students who decided to take the challenge confirmed their commitment to the cause by signing a banner to be displayed in a prominent location at their school. The Edna Hill banner will be hung in the main hallway so that everyone can see it.

According to Jobb, the mission of Rachel’s Challenge – to create a safe learning environment – will help enhance programs already in place on campus, including Advisory and the Welcome Everybody program.

“I’ve already seen students practicing the goals discussed in the Rachel’s Challenge presentation,” Jobb said. “Since it’s back to school time and we have a lot of new students, I see that returning students are going out of their way to make the new kids feel welcome. I never see a student eating lunch alone. And I also see the students practicing positive gossip and talking about their peers and teachers in a positive way. This program couldn’t have come to Edna Hill at a better time.”

At Adams Middle School, students laughed, cried and watched in awe as Rachel’s story played before them. She was the first victim of the Columbine tragedy, an event most of these students were too young to remember. They watched clips of family interviews to learn more about Rachel’s inspirational life and legacy.

In response to the program, Adams Leadership Advisor Laura Bascom said the students have begun a Chain Links Club, a continuation of the Rachel’s Challenge program in which students actively pursue the five goals on a daily basis through school events and community service, creating a chain reaction aimed at spreading through Brentwood and beyond.

“My code (of ethics) may seem like a fantasy that can never be reached, but test them for yourself,” Rachel wrote in her essay, “and see the kind of effect they have in the lives of people around you. You may just start a chain reaction.”

For more information about Rachel’s Challenge, visit www.rachelschallenge.org.