The Chapin Chronicle
Rachel's Challenge: My own Beliefs and ThoughtsFriday, September 23, 2011 By Melani McWeeny
While I was sitting there watching the videos; listening to the speaker; hearing the stories of not only Rachel but of her friends and family as I sat there I realized just how much we as human beings don't listen or don't pay attention until something bad happens; until we've lost everything. I have a feeling no more of a feeling that if Rachel Joy Scott didn't die that day and had a chance to read her essay that her ethnics and her life wouldn't have impacted us as much as it had. It would probably have taken her, her WHOLE life before she could have changed the world so much. Now I'm not saying it was a good thing her life was taking away from her and her family because I would never wish anything like this on anyone but sometimes we as a society need something horrible and upsetting to realize we had a ray of hope to fix our problems and change the world. I personally look up to Rachel; but honestly I didn't know anything about her or what happened until two days ago. Listening to what she believed in and watching her family talk about her inspired me. Here was a girl a Junior in high school (which is what I am now) just writing her beliefs down and just had a high since of justice and fairness and completely believed in the power of good and kindness. She wasn't perfect though and I believe she wouldn't want to be known as perfect but instead a believer of her power and the power of others that when working together to just do one simple good thing could make a chain reaction of the same. One part that really got to me was when her brother talked about her and what he went through it killed me inside because I have a little brother. Thinking of what he thought of after realizing the first gun shots he heard was the bullets killing he beloved sister made me sick; the thought of realizing someone you love just died and you couldn't do anything is almost madding. Her brother spoke of her highly and it must have hurt him inside having to talk about her but he did it knowing his sister's story and what she believed in must be shared and not only did he lose a sister that day but two of his best friends who died right in front of him. I remember one part when we was talking about his sister and he just had this saddened; down trotted look and I could tell he was chocking back tears as he said "I miss my sister..." If he had a bond like me and my brother do then I couldn't even imagine the pain running through his whole body and what it must feel like. From her story and how people talked about her Rachel was: Kind Cheerful Full of light imperfect but amazingly good Fun Strong-willed Hard headed but open-minded all at the same time and she always, always tried to look for the good in people and always give them a chance. That what I want to do; always give people a chance and always find the good in people no matter how bad or horrible they seem at first cause for them just someone there for them can change their life even if they seem like they don't like that person. I admit I guess you can say I'm a little touchy when it come to anything like this and other people's opinions can just be as open as mine but what some people say drives me crazy. The next day after the assembly after 1st block was over I heard 3 guys talking and the things they were saying made me have to bite my tongue. They started saying what she believed in was 'retarded' 'stupid' and 'a complete waste of time' okay I understand that a little they are high school students (plus guys hardly ever say what they really feel or want especially when other guys are around). But then they said that she probably planned it herself; that she was part of the reason the two boys shot up the school; planted bombs; and massacred and murdered so mainly inccent human beings; they said she was the reason why; not in so many words though. Think about it though WHY would a girl who had so much going for her have herself get shot? Why would she throw her life away and not leave any trace behind out in the open for people to see. Okay now for argument sake lets say she was part of the plan and decided she wanted to get shot, why would she get herself KILLED? If she wanted to share her story to the world why wouldn't she just get shot in the arm or leg while trying to save someone? If she planned this wouldn't that be better? Another opinion that I heard and the person who had it is actually one of my friends. He said 'what happens if she was fake?' That I could understand a little bit more it's a reasonable high school answer. If you think about it most high schoolers now a days are fake but we're more open because we both have the ridicule we did back in 1999. Rachel couldn't be abnormal or weird or different unless she didn't care what people thought or what they said. But... If she was fake wouldn't be easier to just blend in and not have a code of ethnics so high powered and strong even if it was for school was just an assessments why put so much feeling into just a grade? Why waste your time saying how you feel and what you think if you are just fake? That's why I believe she wasn't fake imperfect yes, fake no. I admit I rather have people think she's fake than think her ethnics and codes and who she is is retarded or a waste of time or think she somehow magically helped plan the shooting. Rachel's story and the Columbine Shooting story should be shared to let people know that even they can change a world even if its just a small dream or point of view that a small step can help someone; change a town; and change someone's life. Niel Armstrong part of the Apollo 11 crew that first landed on the moon said "One small step for man; One giant leap for mankind" you can interpret that how ever you want but here's my interpretation: "Even the smallest of things can change the world and become something meaningful in someone's history" So I'll start my own challenge to everyone who is reading this. First: Have a dream! No matter how small or big have a dream and start a goal and never let go of it and never let anyone make you change your mind because if you push yourself and fight for what you believe in anyone's bad opinion of you're life is excluded. I believe with the right idea and the right people you can go as far as you want to go. Second: Be yourself! I personally can not just not be myself; the way I live, the things I do is all myself. So don't let anyone say you're fake because some people think I'm a poser just for the simple fact I have a million different styles and my personality is vast so if you usually wear skirts or pink or are preppy and one day you decide you want to go out in a black t-shirt or trip pants, or find a 'G-hat' and put your hair in pig-tail and wear DC shoes and go in 'gansta' then so be it the only one who is stopping you is you. Third: Even if you don't like them; TRY to be nice and be open minded! People go through different things everyday and we as humans think over a million different thoughts every minute so if someone makes you mad or gets on your bad side stop for a second and think about what you've been through and the bad days you've had; what's to say they aren't going through something similar. You may never understand exactly want someone goes through but you've have had feelings and have been on someone's bad side before just remember an open mind can old more wisdom than one that is closed and blocked. So just stop and say hi to that person and maybe get to know them before you decide if you don't like them. Fourth: Do your best! We've all heard this since school started "TRY your best" well I want you to "DO your best" because if you do your best and work your hardest you wont have any regrets and you can feel accomplished and like you can do anything cause we may not admit it but the feeling of doing something you've known you've down your best in is power. So do your best 1000% And last but not lest the fifth one: Have an Open heart If you don't share your feelings or open up to not even one person how can anyone understand who you really are? If you can't love how can you be loved? So take a little time of your day to understand someone to let them know you're there and it will be the same for you... These are my 5 challenges to you now take your time and do one of these thing.... |