Knoch High School commits to ‘Rachel’s Challenge’
JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch High School students participated in Rachel’s Challenge on Wednesday, Nov. 8, honoring the life and legacy of “the first Columbine victim” with an oath of kindness.
Inspired by 17-year-old Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School massacre, health teacher and organizer Lisa Knappenberger said the program was a platform for “anti-bullying, acceptance and positivity” in the school. Scott was killed during the shooting in Columbine, Colo., on April 20, 1999, that saw 13 students murdered by the two shooters.
“Maybe the biggest goal that we have is to get them to kind of look outside themselves,” she said. “As teenagers, it’s just one thing — it’s your life and what’s going on — and I think to see the bigger picture would be our goal.”
Knappenberger said Wednesday’s program was broken into three parts: an introductory challenge for ninth grade, a follow-up challenge for grades 10 through 12 and a workshop with the school’s FOR Club.
“FOR Club stands for “Friends of Rachel,” and it is just an outreach of Rachel’s Challenge,” she said. “Schools agree to participate, and then it’s really up to schools individually what they do with it.”
For Knoch High School, Knappenberger said the club is comprised of two groups spreading kindness through the school.
“We have a Birthday Club, and they make cards for every student in the school and then those get delivered on their birthday,” she said, “and we have a Positive-Environment Club, where we do things to just create a positive environment — whether it be aesthetically or in our interactions with people.”
Knappenberger said the FOR Club contained 34 members, and that she hoped Wednesday’s program would inspire new ninth graders to join.
“I’d like to gain another 15-20 freshmen,” she said. “I think that’d be great.”
Presenter Kayla Vergholz said both the introductory challenge and the follow-up challenge presented five separate objectives for the students.
The introductory challenge, according to Vergholz, presented Rachel’s life story as well as fundamental goals for the ninth graders.
“Things like, ‘look for the best in others,’ to ‘dream big,’ to ‘choose positive influences,’ to ‘speak with kindness’ and to ‘start a chain reaction’ of kindness with those closest to you,” she said.
The follow-up challenge then presented Rachel’s legacy to grades 10 through 12, Vergholz said, tasking students with developing their own.
“What I mean by that ‘legacy’ is how her life impacts people even after she’s gone,” she said. “We’re all working on our own legacy, so I just want to be here today to encourage your legacy a well — not just Rachel’s, but your legacy.”
The follow-up challenge highlighted Rachel’s values, recorded in her journals and an essay written a month before her murder: “My Ethics; My Code of Life.”
“I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same,” the presentation quoted from her essay. “People will never know how far a little kindness can go.”
What followed were five additional challenges for the students: “leave a legacy of kindness,” “show compassion,” “practice pre-acceptance, don’t pre-judge,” “learn from your mistakes” and “forgive yourself and others.”
“The deep-root problem really is about getting these kids connected,” Vergholz said. “There’s just so much disconnection and isolation, so we’re connecting to make an atmosphere of kindness and compassion — and a safer school.”
