Love and Logic Conference: Day Two (Part I) I want to tell you a story I heard that explains why I am a teacher and why there is still hope in a sometimes dark and scary world. This story starts with a tragedy and ends with forgiveness. 15 years ago there was a school shooting at Columbine High School. For those of you who know me I could talk about what I remember about the day of this tragedy (and I do remember it) but I wont. Instead I want to talk about a girl. This girls name was Rachel Scott. She was a 17 year old student at Columbine and was the first victim of the shooting. She lost her life outside of the school but left behind journals and writings that show a kindness and courage that have since reached further than she could have ever known in the form of an organization called Rachels Challenge. Rachels Challenge has touched millions of lives and inspired people all over the world to live with just a little of the courage that this extraordinary young woman showed for the 17 years of her life. Here is a story of one life that has been touched by Rachel and Rachels Challenge. (Please keep in mind that this is a story that was related to a room full of people by Rachels father and that this is my attempt to spread a profound moment to a larger audience than was present in the room). After Rachels Challenge was given to a high school in New Jersey and the auditorium had emptied there was one boy still there. This boy was a big, strong linebacker and happened to be a senior at the school. He was also going to graduate in two months and he was troubled. The linebacker said that he had been the biggest bully of the school. He said that he was a trouble maker and a mean kid. He told the presenter that he hadnt realized how horrible a person he had been to the whole school (or at least hadnt acknowledged it to himself) until he heard this presentation. The linebacker went on to express his sincere desire to apologize to everyone for his actions but didnt know how. He asked the presenter for advice and the presenter responded with, I dont know what you should do. He proceeded to tell the young man that if he spent some time by himself in thought, the answer would come to him. Later on the principal of the school stopped the presenter to tell him what this young man had done. After school had let out the principal, as he did every afternoon, exited the school to monitor the bus lines. As the principal was heading outside he saw that the linebacker was standing out front with a piece of cardboard held up over his head. There were tears running down his face and the words Im sorry were written on the board. The young man stood there as the rest of the students left the school. This principal said he watched the students who were in the buses and were leaving the building mouthing to this young linebacker: We forgive you. This is a story that is profound in more than one way. Most importantly for me it is a story of the amazing, extraordinary, and compassionate acts that young men and women can accomplish and do accomplish every day. Whatever you take from this story is up to you. It is, however, a poignant example of WHY I have chosen to do what I do. If you want to learn more about Rachel Scott and the organization called Rachels Challenge please visit this website: rachelschallenge.org/ Thank you for reading this rather rambling narration from a grateful and inspired teacher!
Posted on: Thu, 26 Jun 2014 22:20:05 +0000
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