Columbine student’s legacy inspires St. Mary’s students, Lynn community

LYNN – On April 20, 1999, a 17-year-old girl lost her life in Littleton, Colo.Rachel Joy Scott was the first person killed during the tragic Columbine High School massacre. Though her life was prematurely extinguished, her message of compassion lives on, touching students across the nation.On Tuesday, St. Mary’s High School will host a guest speaker from Rachel’s Challenge. One of the most life-changing school programs in America, Rachel’s Challenge focuses on helping students recognize their purpose in life. Parents, students and community members are welcome to attend the presentation, which will be held at 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Conigliaro gymnasium.Rachel’s acts of kindness, coupled with the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for Rachel’s Challenge. Her theory was that if one person could go out of his or her way to show compassion, it would start a chain reaction.The St. Mary’s community agrees.”Compassion doesn’t happen by itself,” said St. Mary’s Head of School Dr. Raymond A. Bastarache. “I believe parents must be proactive in teaching their children compassion. Compassion has to be tangible. It can’t be taught only through a movie. We need to encourage students to reach out to new students at school. We need to be concerned about others.”Students participating in Rachel’s Challenge will be issued five powerful challenges that are based on the writings and life of Rachel Joy Scott. The program consists of two school assemblies earlier in the day, a peer training session and the evening community event that is intended to inspire every listener towards a life of kindness and compassion.For more information, call Lisa Morin-Plante at (781) 595-7885 ext. 369 or Susanna Brennan ext. 233.