On February 18 and 19, underclassmen received a presentation about Rachel’s Challenge at the Judson Performing Arts Center.

Rachel’s Challenge is an organization that seeks to enlighten student’s on the impact which bullying can have on a student’s life through the story of Rachel Scott, the first student to be shot and killed by two of her classmates at Columbine High School.

Before her passing, Scott was well known for her selflessness and generosity throughout her community. With anecdotes given by her uncle, Larry Scott, and family friend, Meichelle Gibson, the students were able to hear firsthand accounts of the impact Rachel had through her kindness.

Rachel’s Challenge has reached over 25 million students and adults as well as prevented seven school shootings and 150 suicides annually. 

“You know kindness has a ripple effect just like evil does. When you do a kind act towards somebody else, that gets reciprocated in kind and I believe that that goes beyond these walls – wherever that kid is, if they carry that message and they act on it, I think it improves a lot everywhere,” Principal Jesus Hernandez said.

The story of Rachel’s journey brought many students to reflect on their relationships and interactions with those around them.

“I was definitely more aware of what goes on at our school and how we’re definitely more insensitive to other groups of people because we have our own cliques,” sophomore Ronald Waiters said. “I hope it just instills in some people may be more popular or bigger in the crowd that there are other people who are smaller than them and that still deserve the same amount of respect that other people give them.”

Seniors were omitted from the presentations in order to allow them to focus on their classwork and preparation for post-high school occupations.

“It would’ve been nice for them to go, but I think there are some things that they have to take care of before they walk into adulthood, so we decided to let the seniors go take care of that, the rest of the kiddos on the campus [received the presentation] because they’re gonna come back next year,” Hernandez said.

Along with the presentations, the campus will be receiving a Friends of Rachel Club – an organization consisting of 100 students nominated by teachers that will develop various kindness related events year-round.

“There’s gonna be some events on the campus that are gonna be very visible that resonate with this message and these kids are gonna [implmenet, plan, and commit to] make them happen. It’s open for everyone to participate, but these are the kids that are going to make those things happen,” Hernandez said.

Ultimately, Rachel’s Challenge campaign hopes to bring a bright future for Judson students and the community.

“Too many times we are lost in everything that we’re doing that is negative and that usually overshadows the good things that we have in our lives, in our families, in our school, in our classrooms, in our relationships,” Hernandez said. “The thing that stood out the most was that you don’t have to be special to be kind. You don’t have to be a superhero. It can come from anywhere and anybody can start that reaction.”

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