A message of kindness and compassion was presented to the students at Oxford Middle School on Thursday, Sept. 24.
Speaker Dave Gamache shared the inspirational story of Rachel Joy Scott, who was the first person killed in the Columbine shootings on April 20, 1999. Since then, her words and ideas have been presented to millions of children across the United States.
The basis of her message was taken from an essay 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.?
The program gave students positive examples on how to behave with kindness and compassion instead of being instructed to, said Oxford Middle School Principal Ken Weaver.
Gamache presented the students with four different challenges in order to inspire them to change how they interact with other students.
The first challenge was to treat others the way you wanted to be treated. ‘If you turn around and put other people first and other people’s feeling’s first, this school could change overnight,? said Gamache.
He also encouraged the students to believe in themselves and dream big.
‘What other people see in you doesn’t matter. What matters is what you see in the mirror,? he said.
In a letter that Rachel wrote to her cousin about peer pressure, she wrote ‘don’t you dare let what other people think about you determine what is right, don’t let your character change color with your enviorment, find out who you are and let it stay it’s true color.?
According to Gamache, dreams are amazing things, and there is a difference between saying I hope to accomplish a dream and I will accomplish it. He said when you hope, you put your dreams in the hands of others, but when you say ‘I will,? the dream is in your hands.
The third challenge issued to students was to appreciate everyone and not mock anyone. Finally, Gamache taught the kids about the power of positive gossip ? saying things designed to build others up, instead of tearing them down.
‘Imagine what would happen if this room came together and had each other’s backs, and built each other up and looked for the best in other. Just imagine the change you could make,? said Gamache.
Gamache concluded the presentation by inviting the children to sign the Rachel’s Challenge banner at lunchtime and join the Chain Links Club.
Weaver said that the presentation was well done and that he could see the deep impact that it had on the students.
It moved a couple of students to tears as they shared how Rachel’s story of kindness and compassion touched them personally and motovatied them to change how they interact in their personal relationships.
Nearly 80 students signed up for the Chain Link Club, the middle school program of Rachel’s Challenge. The club encourages members to continually seek out and welcome new students to the school and get them interacting with others, whether it’s at the lunch table or on a sports team.