"RACHEL'S CHALLENGE" COMES TO CLASSICAL

It was a moment of anticipation and a little nervousness. We had heard this special Assembly event was coming, and were even given a little information about who Rachel was - - - Rachel Scott, the first person killed during the Columbine High School Massacre in 1999. But what did this have to do with me, my life, and my school ?

It didn't take long for Ms. Snipes, our Presenter, to get us to understand that Rachel was special, very special. The comparison of Rachel with Anne Frank put it all together for me. Anne Frank and her family had hidden in an attic in Amsterdam for 2 years before being found by the Nazis under an edict from Adolf Hitler to eliminate all Jewish people. Anne Frank had kept a personal diary that was given to her surviving parent, and the Diary of Anne Frank eventually became required reading in schools around the world.

Rachel Scott also kept a diary, and the intention of this assembly was to share her ideas and thoughts with the world. Rachel was killed on Adolf Hitler's birthday, the date selected by the two murdering students as a special date for the Columbine Massacre. When her book bag was given back to her father by the police, Rachel's diary was found. In her writings, she opened up a world of hope and understanding, a way of life that has spread her "code" to millions of people so far.

Ms. Snipes made this presentation totally personal to the 1500 students and teachers that were present at the Assemblies today. Everyone I spoke to after the Assembly felt deeply moved. I hope everyone can experience this at some point and take up "Rachel's Challenge" themselves.                                                     by Anon

Nasha Snipes

Nasha Snipes is a certified trainer, motivational speaker, and entrepreneur who has dedicated her life to excellence in service. Over the last 7 years, she has been encouraging high school and college students to "make life count" by working hard, pursuing dreams, and committing to excellence. She has served on many community roundtables discussing everything from positive self image management to the affects of stress on the body. Nasha is honored and excited to share Rachel's message of kindness, compassion, and dreaming. She has personally taken Rachel's Challenge. She loves the empowerment Rachel's message gives students and adults to do the same! She believes, "If the dream is BIG enough, the facts don't matter" and that Rachel's story is an example!

Our Program Coordinator Ms. Baglieri with Speaker Ms. Snipes

Students were totally into the Presentation.