A few years ago I learned the story of a young girl who had a very profound theory, “that if one person goes out of their way to show compassion then it will start a chain reaction”. Her name was Rachel Joy Scott she was the first victim whose life was taken during the columbine shooting on April 20th 1999, it’s known to have been one of the most tragic school shootings in history. A lot of people knew her because of how kind and loving she was to everyone that she ever came across. Right away that was something that got me wanting to know more. So the presenter kept going on in the background talking about how inspiring she has been for other that have learned her story, and just how devoted she was to her faith in God. She always saw the good and positive things on people. All her diary entries are living proof of it all. She became known as an inspirational person when her parents discovered how positive she always was in the diaries she kept, where she always wrote many things that defined the kind of person she was in life, her dreams, her greatest desire of all to one day touch the hearts millions and that’s just how she would start a chain reaction of her own.
As I was sitting there watching and listening to the speaker during this presentation, I was so devastated to see how cruel humanity can be, and emotional because the lives of many innocent people were taken just like that. When I say it was hard for me, it really was I couldn't hold back the tears. Many people cried during this presentation not just me but out of all those people in that room I felt it hit me the most. I encountered the most amazing connection to her story and the legacy she has left behind for us and in that moment it felt as if she was there in spirit a lot of us came together and began to feel the need to hug each other and appreciate having one another there in that moment, and till this day I remember how one of my dearest friends watched how deep this hit me and he didn't hesitate to reach out his hand and hold mine as I tried to gain some strength I will never forget how special it was that he did that for me.
After this presentation they asked us, “Those that accept Rachel’s challenge raise your hand right now” by accepting her challenge we were accepting to do the following 1. Look for the best in others 2. Dream big 3. Choose positive influences 4. Speak with kindness 5. Start your own chain reaction.
I remember getting back to school and hugging my Sargent, and thanking him for giving me the opportunity to have gone to this leadership conference. I couldn't help but feel all those emotions all over again and I started crying but only this time they were happy tears. He saw just how much that touched my heart and every since this day i was known as the passionate one.
When I got home that afternoon I went straight to my room and began to write about this day because I didn't want to ever forget it. Writing was my escape from everything ever since I was 11 years old and till this day it still is but as the years have passed I strongly believe that God has given this as my purpose in life that everything I’ve been through is meant to be shared with the world because I’m not the only one who goes through heartache and pain or the only one who breaks down and cry. He wants me to do more he believes I have the strength in me to share my thoughts and feelings with others and reach out just how Rachel has done with her legacy.
Learning about her has really changed my life in many ways I became obsessed with this theory ever since that day so I would write about things I would like to do to be able to actually reach out to others and maybe give them the encouragements or strength they may been in desperate need to pull through anything they have going on at any moment. Some of my very own encouragements have also helped me during the years. They were just writings then because I was afraid of actually sharing them but now I’m just very blessed and thankful for re-encountering all of this again after 5 years and having gained the strength I needed back then. Now more than anything it’s all I desire, i want to inspire people and let them know that no matter what you go through in life you need to have faith and trust that it pass. I know that it’s not that I am being an overly emotionally or sensitive person ever, these are characteristics of the kind of person I am, many people underestimate that about me but that’s not what defines me theres so much more meaning for me being that way, i believe these are just signs of my strength, and it shows just how big my heart is. I believe that God knows better than I do what is good for me and what isn't. I am not ashamed of being looked at differently by those that don’t agree or understand me because as long as I keep my faith and put my trust in him I will fulfill my soul purpose in this world.
There are days when all hope seems lost like it’s impossible to be the light when there’s so much darkness in the world.Sometimes I sit and wonder how mad this world has really gone and how much violence and how much killing is going on and I realize just how much people have pulled away from their faith.
Somethings have to change, we need to be kinder to each other and know that everyone’s life matters, and we need to stop living in hypocrisy because it will get us nowhere. It doesn't matter who you are, where you’re from, or what you've done in your past. What matters is what are you going to do to change? What are you going to do to become a better you? How are you going to express your love for humanity? How are you going to give your life for God, just how he gave his own to save each one of us? Take some time and really ask yourself how you can be the one person to make difference because that’s all it takes is one person to go out of their way to start something big just how Rachel has.
This is how her story lives on within me…
I know I can make a difference in the world and stand up for what I believe in just how she has taught me to be all these years I know it won’t be easy but I know it’s not impossible. Sometimes you have to have to see with your heart and never stop believing in it. God, Is the author of my life, he allows me the chance to compose and pour my heart out with everything I believe in and stand for in hope that it will reach the hearts of many who believe in his power! It fills me with so much joy to know that this is just who my God wants me to be and I firmly believe that he loves me for not letting anything change the kind of person I am till this day.
