Survivor Speaks To Broken Arrow Students On The Lesson Of Columbine

Ashli Sims, News On 6

BROKEN ARROW, Oklahoma -- Hundreds of Broken Arrow students took a challenge Thursday to end bullying. Rachel's Challenge is a presentation so powerful it reduced many high schoolers to tears.

Students in high school today are likely too young to remember that day in April of 1999. And Columbine is probably just a word. But Craig Scott wants these Broken Arrow students to know and remember Rachel.

"You don't get to meet my sister in person," Craig said.

Rachel Scott was one of 13 people killed at Columbine High School that day. Craig, himself a Columbine survivor, says his sister was the kind of kid who stood up for the bullied and isolated. She wrote in her journal about the power of small acts of kindness.

And in the shadow of her picture, he's using her voice to preach a message of compassion.

"Nobody thinks of themselves as a bully. Bullying is really an attitude of putting someone else down. If you have a culture of compassion, bullying can't exist," he said.

Craig says Rachel talked about dying young, and just before the shooting at Columbine, she told her teacher her life would have an impact.

Craig is challenging the students to live as Rachel did, and keep the promise written on her memorial cross.

"Seeing how everybody else reacted towards what he was saying and what she taught. It was amazing," said 10th Grader Xochitl.

Xochitl was touched and shocked by the emotion of her peers. They cried, laughed, and leaned on each other. And when it was over... these students embraced a moment of healing.

"I actually had an issue with a friend last year. And afterwards we hugged and I was like ‘I'm so sorry.' And she was like ‘I'm sorry too,'" Xochitl said.

Student leaders are training in a workshop tomorrow to form Rachel's challenge teams to continue this work throughout the school year.