ADRIAN, Oregon -- There's an important message being spread to students in the rural parts of Eastern Oregon, and it's mostly thanks to the hard work and vision of one young woman.
Rachel's Challenge is a national non-profit that uses the writings of Rachel Scott to encourage a chain reaction of kindness. Seventeen-year-old Rachel was the first victim in the Columbine High School shootings in 1999. Her writings about compassion and acceptance have been spread through a motivational school program. Wednesday, it was a special day in Adrian, Oregon, as that program came to town, and students vowed to keep Rachel's legacy alive.
Over the years, more than 21 million people have seen the program. But, because of the logistics and cost, most of the schools who saw it are larger, and in more urban areas. That's very unlike Adrian, who's elementary, middle, and high schools have a total of just 200 kids.
"You don't wait," said Stephanie Allison, Adrian's student body advisor. "You just have to do it. Don't wait for somebody else to start something. You start it yourself."
Believing wholly in that is a student. Senior Kellie Barraza started working back in March to bring Rachel's message of inclusiveness to tiny Adrian, because bullying is a problem she knows happens everywhere, "Just watching the assembly, we were watching for the high schoolers, and you could see that they were taking it to heart. They were seeing the impact Rachel made on her high school, and how she's continued to live on that legacy even after her death."
But, the message spread even farther than Adrian, as students from Greenleaf and Harper were brought in, as well.
"Rachel, one of her big things was that we need to start a chain reaction," said Barraza. "So, it only made sense to me, to bring in other schools."
And the message was heard all day long. In the morning, there were a couple rallies. In the afternoon, there were training sessions to help students start school clubs, so they can promote compassion long after these programs have ended.
"If we can teach them at this grade level, and younger, then hopefully, it will carry on into adulthood," said Allison.
"I feel like we can take this well past high school, and turn it into how we live our lives," said Barraza. "And then, if we can be kind and compassionate, we're off to a great start."
Organizers say they're still doing some fundraising for the event. You can contact the school for more information.
