Rachel’s Challenge: Behind the Story

Tara Roumes

Rachel’s Challenge standing tall outside RHS.

Lives were changed forever on April 20, 1999, but hearts will forever be touched by Rachel Scott, whose legacy will live on forever. 

Rachel Scott was a victim of the Columbine shooting which occurred on April 20, 1999. By mid afternoon, Rachel was one of the twelve students and one teacher who were innocently killed at Columbine High School in Litton, Colorado by two senior students.

The aftermath of this deadly massacre led many wondering if this scar on the town, or the country, would ever heal. With the twelve angels who are forever watching over the community, they remind the ones who are hurting and looking for closure that their legacies will live on forever. Especially, Rachel Scott, the first victim to be shot in the school massacre.

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These hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott and will someday touch millions of people’s hearts.

— Rachel Scott

Rachel Scott was a 17 year old whose story did not come to an end, yet the chapters were just unfolding. Through a journal discovered by her parents, Rachel had traced her hands in her journal with writing inside the palm of the hand that read, “These hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott and will someday touch millions of people’s hearts.” Just as she stated, she touched millions throughout the nation. 

A firm believer in God, Rachel has filled her journal with conversations where she expresses her feelings. On April 20, 1999, Rachel responded “Yes” to when shooter Eric Harris asked her if she believed in God, where in further investigation it was understood ones who responded like Rachel, were shot shortly after their answer was revealed. 

Rachel wrote about her feelings and thoughts very often in her journal, including a drawing the morning before her death. In her journal, she drew a photo of two eyes crying 13 tears on to a flower, something that reflects the ones who were killed later that day. Another entry which came as a shock to her mother was when she found writing from her daughter that included, “This will be my last year Lord. I’ve gotten what I can. Thank you,” which was written on May 2, 1998. 

Making sure her story lives on, Rachel’s story inspired her parents to create Rachel’s Challenge, an organization that works to reduce violence. This campaign is presented to schools across the nation by Rachel’s family members as well as other victims of the events which occurred in 1999. Presentations are shown which include video footage of the aftermath of the shooting at the school as well as readings and drawings from Rachel’s journal. Overall, Rachel’s Challenge is campaigning against school violence, bullying and teen suicide. 

Across the nation, this campaign is presented to schools in hopes they will act upon the kindness that Rachel brought to the world. Here, at Roxbury High School, the Gaels joined the campaign in the spring of 2008. Just outside the front of the building is a mural representing the “chain reaction” Rachel’s parents started. The mural is 16 feet high and 36 feet wide. Words are spread across the mural reflecting morals such as, “Spread kind words”, “Think good thoughts”, “Do good deeds”, and finally, “Accept the challenge” and “Start a chain reaction”. This mural was painted and created by 60 RHS students and their teachers. 

Throughout the school there are many people who are unaware what this mural stands for in front of our school. When asking students, they knew it was something meaningful to spread kindness, but they did not know what Rachel’s Challenge is. It is important to spread the message of Rachel in hopes her kindness and wishes can spread throughout the nation. 

Rachel’s Challenge is such an important message and RHS is proud to have a beautiful mural in honor of Rachel Scott. It is important to understand the meaning of the hands that are represented in the front of the school. Rachel’s wish and dream was to touch millions of hearts, and her wish came true through such a moving campaign that will forever remember the legacy and lives of the ones who were lost on April 20, 1999 by a mural that stands tall in front of Roxbury High School.