[3] Darrell Scott, Rachel's father, established Rachel's Challenge to perpetuate his daughter's example and the two-page "Code of Ethics" she wrote a month before her death at the hands of the perpetrators of the Columbine High School shooting, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold. [94], The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation posthumously awarded Scott the 2001 National Kindness Award for Student of the Year. All rights reserved. Sweet, Lynn. [77] Rachel's Challenge is a national nonprofit and nonpolitical organization[78] whose stated aims are to advocate a safe and positive climate and culture in schools in a campaign to quell school violence, bullying, discrimination, and both homicidal and suicidal thoughts in students. 28 May 1999 (p. A6). The family waited all day and night for her to call. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! Scott and his family found comfort in these words, and ever since, have used Rachel's message to inspire students around the world with their nonprofit organization, Rachel's Challenge. Youve got people that were physically injured, you got people that lost their lives, he said. "There are eight school shootings we know of that would have taken place if it hadn't been for Rachel's Challenge," Scott said. Craig Scott, a survivor, shares his story. It's hard to believe 20 years have passed since the unimaginable tragedy that took place at Columbine High School in Colorado one of the deadliest mass shooting attacks at a high school in U.S. history. In my experience, most Christians lack grounding in Gods attributes, including His sovereignty, omnipotence, omniscience, justice, and patience. Theres a difference between forgiveness and pardon. Craig Scott, Rachels brother, was in the high school library when the shooters barged inside. Legal Statement. The two perpetrators then committed suicide in the school library, the place where they slaughtered the most victims. I have no more personal friends at school. On Tuesday, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos entered Robb Elementary School and opened fire on students, killing 19 children and two teachers. New programs were developed to prevent bullying and help social outcasts after it emerged that Harris and Klebold, both gifted students, had been picked on for years. [10], As a child, Scott was an energetic, sociable girl, who displayed concern for the well-being of others, particularly if they were downcast or otherwise in need. Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Joy Scott, a victim of the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado in April, 1999, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on crime holding hearings on "Pending Firearms Legislation and the Administration's Enforcement of Current Gun Laws." Graves said he's both anxious and excited by the anniversary. [102][n 2], Darrell Scott has stated that reliving his daughter's death giving his Rachel's Challenge speeches is painful, but that he and his family consider the opportunity to be a worthwhile experience as they can turn a tragedy into triumph. Sign up here and we will see you in the morning! We should learn to become see-throughers. [58] Her coffin was adorned with messages of love, gratitude, and grief. "There's hardening the target, but they're softening the heart," Scott said. Survivor stories: Craig Scott reflects on the Columbine shooting nearly 20 years later, Katie Couric interviews Columbine victims' families in 1999, How former Columbine principal is helping faculty after Florida school shooting. or redistributed. Rachel's Challenge is an organization in the United States that works to reduce violence. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! I'm trying to share with them some of the things that I learned to get through it and to be a better person because of it". Moreover, unlike the other persons who testified before the Congressional subcommittee that day, Mr. Scott presented no facts or statistics relating to the issues of gun control and gun law enforcement; he merely gave his opinion that gun control laws wouldn't have stopped the Columbine High School shootings and that those shootings were somehow related to a lack of religion in schools (repeating along the way the erroneous claim that prayer has been "outlawed" in schools). Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School senior Samuel Zeif, whose best friend was killed during the mass shooting, talks about shooting deaths in Australia as Darrell Scott listens, while participating in a listening session hosted by President Donald Trump at the White House on Feb. 21, 2018. Reviewing their daughter's life and hearing firsthand just how profound an impact Scott's simple acts of kindness had imprinted on the lives of those who had known her, as well as recalling her repeatedly stated desire for her life to have an impact for the better on others,[75] Darrell Scott and Beth Nimmo were inspired to write the book Rachel's Tears, a non-fiction book about their daughter, her faith, her inspirational journal entries, and the impact of her loss on their lives. My daughter's death will not be in vain! While this did not remove his pain, it did provide solid footing from which he could move forward, trusting God instead of resenting Him. Scott's mother and her brother Craig toured many schools across the United States years after the shooting to speak about Rachel's life, asserting that she probably died because of her religious beliefs. "One of the most horrible things is not knowing," Scott shared, remembering his own experience of losing his daughter. God sent me an angel," before staring at Scott's casket and weeping. "[71] Other sources report that Castaldo had survived by "playing dead". Images of heavily armed SWAT teams descending on a school and the sight of students filing out with their hands up were burned into the national consciousness. [59] The Hollywood Reporter accounts that Richard Castaldo, who was shot while sitting with Scott and survived, "told a newspaper that not only did the killers ask Rachel about her faith but that he, too, was asked if he believed in God, and he answered truthfully that he did not, and his life was spared. Scott wrote in her journals that her spiritual awareness developed greatly through attending this youth group, and she became known as a leading advocate within it. When there is another school tragedy, which just rips at our hearts every time we see that, the word Columbine will be brought up, Anna said. The following morning, authorities confirmed that Rachel was one of the first students killed. Its hard to imagine its already been 20 years, a visibly emotional Graves told NBC News. Its the generous support of our ministry partners that enables us to continue our eternity-shaping work. She was posthumously the subject and co-writer of several books and the inspiration for Rachel's Challenge, an international[4][5] school outreach program and the most popular school assembly program in the U.S.[6], The aim of Rachel's Challenge is to advocate Scott's values, based on her life, her journals, and the contents of a two-page essay, penned a month before her murder, entitled My Ethics; My Codes of Life. Since that fateful day in 1999, Darrell has spoken to over 5 million educators, students, parents and professionals in live settings around the world. A Columbine High School student is rescued by emergency personnel during the shooting spree at the school in the southwest Denver suburb of Littleton, Colorado on April 20, 1999. Castaldo, who was also hit and played dead while the killers moved on, was left paralyzed. The Florida teenager traveled this week to Colorado, where she bought a gun and fatally shot herself Wednesday as authorities were searching for her. Darrell Scott is the father of the first Columbine victim; Rachel Joy Scott. By noon, both shooters were dead after turning their guns on themselves. But my sister is not the only one who believes in kindness, and she's not been the only one in her brave stance against the injustice willing to stand up for the one who gets put down in school, to sit by the student that sits all alone at lunch, and to talk to or reach out to the one who is consistently ignored or made fun of. The tearful interview, which NBC did not interrupt with normally scheduled station breaks, was described a year later by USA Today as "one of the most indelible moments of the tragedy". Columbine High School massacre The massacre, National Education Association of New York, Rachel's Tears: The Spiritual Journey of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott, 2010 CENSUS CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Columbine CDP, CO, "Rachel's Story: Darrell Scott brings his daughter's memory to the Shoals", "Craig Scott, Columbine Massacre Survivor, Revisits the High School and Remembers his Murdered Sister Rachel Scott", "In the Face of Death: Craig Scott Revisits the Columbine Shooting", "Rachel Scott touched 'millions of people's lives", "Colorado News and Denver News: The Denver Post", "17 years later, murder of two teens in Subway restaurant still unsolved", "Rachel Joy Scott Memorial Racheljoyscott.com Gloves of Conviction", "Columbine Victim's Dad Traveling to Share his Daughter's Journal", "Victims in High School had Big Dreams, Plans for Future", "Craig Scott Reflects On The Columbine Shooting Nearly 20 Years Later Survivor Stories TODAY", "Terror in Littleton: the Details; Attack at School Planned a Year, Authorities Say", "Heart-wrenching Farewells Begin In Grieving Town", "Terror In Littleton: The Details; Attack at School Planned a Year, Authorities Say", "After Columbine, martyrdom became a powerful fantasy for Christian teenagers", "How 17-Year-Old Rachel Scott's Death At Columbine Made Her A National Martyr", "Christian Film Stirs Controversy Over Columbine Massacre", "Apology to Rachel's kin 'from the heart', "Remembering Columbine victim Rachel Scott", "Rachel's Challenge to offer small school programs", "Rachel's Challenge: Preventing Teen Violence", "Columbine Survivor Shares Message of Kindness with Tokay High", "Columbine victim's sister urges students to act", "Rachel Scott touched 'millions of people's lives', "Rachel's Challenge: One Story Changing the Lives of Millions Slide To Safety", "Rachel's challenge brings character compassion", "Rachel's Challenge: One Story Changing the Lives of Millions", "Rachel's Challenge Community Event: A Challenge of Kindness MilfordNow", "Major League Baseball honors off-field all-stars", "Rachel's Challenge Program at Grafton High School November 20th", "MLB and 'People' Announce Finalists for "All Stars Among Us", "All Stars Among Us MLB All Stars Baseball All Stars", "Obama kicks off historic night in St. Louis", "Students Take up Rachel's Challenge to Combat Hatred", "Columbine Victim Rachel Scott's Kindness Lives On", "The diary of Rachel Scott: Uncle keeps Columbine shooting victim's spirit alive", "Scott: On the Road to tell Rachel's Faith Story", "I'm Not Ashamed Review Faith-based Drama Exploits Columbine Tragedy", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rachel_Scott&oldid=1141712126, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from October 2020, Articles with dead external links from February 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with dead external links from March 2018, Pages using infobox person with multiple parents, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Bethanee (sister), Dana (sister), Craig (brother), Mike (brother). Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Of those, 143 children, teachers and others were killed and another 294 were injured, according to the newspapers tally. One of those people was Darrell Scott, whose daughter Rachel Joy Scott was the first person killed at Columbine. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best. The conference focused on cultural issues and the accomplishments and personal experiences garnered through Rachel's Challenge. I never imagined that we would be where were at right now, where there are so many mass shootings that we cant even keep up its just unfathomable that Columbine wasnt enough.. Directors Darrell Scott Starring Darrell Scott Genres Documentary, Special Interest Subtitles English [CC] Audio languages English. [64] Porter then requested that others pick up the "torch" in Scott's wake. Because Darrell had learned to think this way, he could, despite his incredible pain, see through Rachels death to a sovereign, purposeful God. 28 May 1999 (p. A4). You seek for answers everywhere [50][51] Her funeral was one of the first services following the massacre and was attended by more than 1,000 people that included friends and staff at Columbine High School. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death. There is a spiritual awakening taking place that will not be squelched! Through legislative creed "I think this year, it's gonna be different because we're spreading the word of both hope and positivity, and love and commitment to give back," he said. The Rachel's Challenge speakers include Darrell, Craig and Mike Scott; guest speakers include Nicole Nowlen, who was wounded at age 16 in the Columbine High School massacre,[81][82] and Adam Kyler, a former Columbine student who had harbored suicidal thoughts until Rachel, noting he was the victim of bullying, offered her friendship and support. He said in the years that followed, he resisted being defined by that tragedy. When Scott reflects on why he decided to go on the show, his answer is simple: "I wanted to give encouragement to Isaiah's dad," who appeared alongside him. If youve been impacted by our resources, we invite you to make a year-end gift before December 31. All Rights Reserved. It takes a good days drive to cover Colorado, but well help you do it in a few minutes. A few hours later, two students, 17-year-old Dylan Klebold and 18-year-old Eric Harris, went on a shooting rampage. Forgiveness is not for them. [60] Scott's mother also asserted that her daughter was on a "target list. Now is the time to contemplate these words of God about the future that awaits us: Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. You've outlawed simple prayer. We know exactly the feeling that these families are gonna feel for the rest of their lives, that hole thats gonna be in their hearts, Bruce Beck, Lauren Townsends stepfather, said. [8], Rachel Joy Scott was born on August 5, 1981, in Denver, Colorado. [23] In her mid-teens, Scott had a serious relationship with a boy, but she chose to end it over concerns that it might develop into a physical encounter. I don't even know what I have done. What he said . Scott also told Trump the problem goes deeper than mental illness, noting that a lot of children who have mental health issues are kind and compassionate. Darrell Scott, the Columbine father, and Scarlett Lewis, whose son Jesse, 6, was killed in his first-grade classroom at Sandy Hook, both advocate teaching children social-emotional skills, like . In the wake of the 2006 West Nickel Mines School shooting, Craig Scott was formally invited to address a National Council on issues relating to safety and security in schools. Craig Scott remembers April 20, 1999 clearly. Scott, Darrell; Nimmo, Beth; Rabey, Steve (2009). I am not a hunter. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. Participants are trained to perpetuate the chain reaction of kindness envisioned by Scott. We've done it with a simple story of a young girl who believed in compassion, Rachel Joy Scott. In addition, Scott felt support from the entire nation after appearing on TODAY for an interview with Katie Couric on April 22, two days after the massacre. United.". [8] Schools around the country have incorporated Rachel's challenge into their own clubs bringing the message to their students. "[56] Scott's parents chose not to speak at the service, but issued a statement in which they described their daughter as "a girl whose love of life was constantly reflected in her love and zeal for music, drama, photography, and for her friends". Experts say copycat shooters often become obsessed with the date of a tragedy that they hope to emulate. One of the most inspiring real-life stories is that of Darrell Scott, the founder of Rachel's Challenge. I feel that it gives me strength, he said. Please send this out to everyone you can!!! (William Luther/The San Antonio Express-News via AP). Its for me. Hed read Norman Grubbs writings about the eye of faith that allows us to see through our worst circumstances to Gods purpose. While it's difficult for him to open up about such a devastating time in his life, he believes that spreading his sister's message keeps her spirit alive. President Bush requested a copy of the speech, and Craig Scott was later invited back to the White House to speak further on these issues. "And that as we saw it that was having an impact, that was part of our hope.". [47] A frequent feature of Rachel's martyr story is that she had a verbal exchange with Klebold and Harris about her religious beliefs before they killed her. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Scott gave life to this non-profit organization after his 17-year-old daughter Rachel went down as the first student killed in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history: Columbine. 27 June 1999 (p. E15). DeAngelis, the Columbine High School principal that day, waited until 2014 to retire, saying he felt a moral obligation to stay until those who were in elementary school at the time of the shooting graduated. Finally, contrary to the coda of the e-mailed account, the "media" did not prevent anyone from hearing Darrell Scott's words. [89] The participating school is provided with a curriculum and a training manual to ensure the continuity of the objectives of Rachel's Challenge, and the speaker typically holds a meeting later with parents and community leaders. As soon as he ran out of the school, he sensed something had happened to his sister. [15] By the age of 17, Rachel, although popular among her peers, would occasionally resist efforts to attend certain social events with her friends out of fear she would succumb to the temptation of drinking alcohol. Most people, Darrell told me, are look-atters. Scott gave his first high school presentation about Rachel's message when he was 18 years old. Tom Mauser, father of Daniel Mauser who was killed in the Columbine High School shooting, gets the crowd fired up at Civic Center Park for the March for Our Lives rally March 24, 2018. Her father, Darrell Scott, promulgated her devout faith in two books of his own Chain Reaction: A Call to a Compassionate Revolution and 2008's Rachel Smiles: The Spiritual Legacy of Columbine Martyr Rachel Scott the latter of which used excerpts from her journals. Sean Graves, one of the survivors, has said in previous interviews that he knew the shooters but was not close to either of them. The Truth: Mr. Scott's testimony was so powerful that a lot of folks who receive an email about it doubt its authenticity. He was also seeing professional counselors. That God is what we need. [11], Craig continues to make frequent speaking appearances on behalf of Rachel's Challenge, urging teens to strive for a classroom "atmosphere of kindness and compassion" to stem school violence. Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital. Last Saturday, April 20, was the 20th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School. . Market data provided by Factset. Denver Rocky Mountain News. How have we done it? Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. Bakgrund. [6] This code of ethics had included the words: "Compassion is the greatest form of love humans have to offer",[7] and Darrell Scott has stated his belief in this message forms the basis for what he both speaks at public appearances, and has written as an author. Darrell Scott father of Rachel Scott killed in Columbine shooting gives congress the truth on God and gun control. Darrells view of God already had a firm place in his heart when Rachel died. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful. We do not need more gaudy television evangelists spewing out verbal religious garbage. Students and staff flee as two heavily armed teenagers go on a shooting rampage at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado on April 20, 1999. The Washington Post, using law enforcement reports, news articles and various databases, has calculated that as of April 8, more than 226,000 students have experienced gun violence at school since Columbine. Rachel was a beautiful 17-year-old girl, and an aspiring writer and actress. [90], Internationally, many schools have incorporated Rachel's Challenge into their internal character building programs, with active efforts made to eradicate any sense of alienation among the student population, and various initiatives implemented to increase cohesion. [54], Those conveying their eulogies included one youth who had been considered an outcast at Columbine High School, who stated: "All my life I prayed that someone would love me and make me feel wanted. Father of Columbine victim Darrell Scott reflects on the Texas school shooting and offers a message of hope. The president has saidhe's in favor of tougher background checks for gun buyers, raising the age to purchase a firearm and more armed personnel in schools. I'd be here representing her. We know there have been numerous school shootings prevented because a student saw another student writing that he wanted to kill someone or something like that.