The chilly rain was not enough to keep several hundred students from showing up Wednesday at the University of Wisconsin Field House to hear the words of Darrell Scott, father of Columbine High School shooting victim Rachel Scott.
Darrell Scott has dedicated his life to inspiring people around the country in the memory of his lost daughter. He has appeared on “Oprah,” “Larry King Live,” “Dateline” and “The Today Show” and has met President Bush and President Clinton. He spoke to the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Crime in May 1999.
“What has happened to us as a nation?” Scott asked of the House. “We have refused to honor God, and in doing so, we open the doors to hatred and violence.”
The presentation given was a remembrance to Rachel Scott in the form of touching images, sound bytes, and interviews with her closest friends and people that had been touched by her.
Rachel wanted to help people her entire life and had planned on traveling to Africa to aid Third World villages.
The audience was visibly moved by the presentation. Many were in tears as they were shown footage of high school students leaving their lunches behind as they fled for their lives.
When asked, audience members described it as “moving” and “amazing.” Jami Teal, a student and audience member, said, “It was amazingly touching. I would recommend it to anybody.”
The program was sponsored by Student Impact, a local chapter of Campus Crusade for Christ, a nationwide Christian organization. Student Impact offers Bible studies every Thursday through a program called Primetime.
“[Scott’s] message is very applicable to this campus … Most of the students here were in high school when this tragedy occurred.” said Student Impact representative Emily Bradley.
The tragedy was the Columbine High School shooting, which took place April 20, 1999. Thirteen students and one teacher were killed when two armed students entered the school and began executing classmates. It was later described as the worst school violence in United States history.
The resounding message left with the audience when Darrell Scott concluded was the words of his departed daughter: “Tomorrow is not a promise but a chance.”
For that reason, Scott implored everyone to take “Rachel’s Challenge,” a challenge outlined in an essay she had written months before her death, calling for people to start a “chain reaction” of kindness and compassion.
