La Quinta Students Take Columbine Victim’s Challenge Of Kindness

LA QUINTA – A group of six students at La Quinta High School are challenging themselves, promising to spread kindness and become positive role models. They are following the path set by Rachel Scott. Rachel was the first to die at Columbine during the shootings on April 20, 1999.

“Rachel Scott said her two hands will change the world and her two hands did change the world, they changed my life,” says Sarah Preston, member of La Quinta High School’s Friends of Rachel club.

Rachel also inspired people around her. Now, 10 years later, she continues to change the world.

“It’s important to remember her because she had so many lessons to teach,” says Farah Meadows, La Quinta High School Teacher and leader of Friends of Rachel. “She wanted to start a chain reaction of kindness.”

Rachel’s parents are carrying out her dreams of peace and kindness. They createdRachel’s Challenge, a motivational school assembly program that travels around the nation. La Quinta High School took the challenge and started a club, called Friends of Rachel.

“It’s a chance to be motivate other students,” says club member Stephanie Mata.

“Be friendly and make sure people don’t feel like outcasts,” says club member Jennifer Cortez.

As people around the country and here in the desert look back on the dark day in 1999, the La Quinta club stands hand in hand, adding to the chain, Rachel began.

“Big things come in small packages. We can change the world even with out small group,” says Preston.

For more information on theFriends of Rachel club, contact Farah Meadows from La Quinta High School at (760) 772-4150.

If you’d like to attend a Rachel’s Challenge event or bring the event to your school, visit www.rachelschallenge.com.