It's been a while since the event, but I have been moving around ever since so I didn't have internet access. I just wanted to say that kindness has always been a part of my life. I always thought that there was no reason to be rude or unkind to someone, especially to someone I don't know. I had an experience with trying to be nice to someone and having that person be very unkind to me in return. We attended the same school and I noticed that this young man always sat alone; nobody really talked to him. I found enough courage one day to sit by him and talk to him. He looked surprised that I was even taking notice of him. He was very curt to me but I sat by him, even for a second, every day. As each day passed, he got better about talking to me. Then you guys came and told Rachel's story. That was incredible, by the way! It really touched me because I think, in a way, I'm somewhat like Rachel and I realized that what she did for that girl in her story, I was doing for that young boy at my school. The next day I went my usual way to sit by him and I found that instead of wearing his normal all black outfit, he wore a blue t-shirt and baggy blue jeans and his hair was blonde instead of black. At first I wasn't even sure I was sitting next to the same guy. As I sat down, he told me right away that he was sorry that he was so mean to me when I first talked to him. He said that on that day he was going to run away and probably kill himself, but something was holding him back. He said I was the reason that he came to school each day and the reason that he didn't run away and kill himself. After you guys came, he realized that I wasn't fake or playing a joke on him by talking to him each day. He saw the resemblance in Rachel’s story and now he's still one of my best friends to this day. I've accepted Rachel's challenge and continue to live the 5 challenges. I thought you might like this little story of compassion. Even though Rachel's mortal body may be dead, her soul and story is alive and will go on. Thank you!

Mr. Scott, you came to my school yesterday and you and your daughter’s story inspired me to be a better person and to make goals for myself. I went to the meeting at 7 p.m. and afterwards I spoke with you about a goal I made to reach out to a mentally challenged girl, and you asked me to email you about how that went. Well, I spoke with her today at lunch and she seemed happy that I came up to her. She told me her name is Christina. She is a very sweet girl and so now I plan to make more people happy like her. Thank you so much for coming. I will always remember you and what you talked about. Thank you, I’m on my way to becoming a better person. 

P.S. I am starting a chain reaction!

Dear Rachel’s Challenge,

I want to thank you. You have told the story of this young woman who has accomplished so much. She was not afraid to stand out, to help others and to show she cared. She showed compassion; many people have trouble showing compassion whether they are high school student athletes, army personal, teachers, doctors, etc. In my eyes, Rachel has not died. She may have faced this tragedy, but her soul, her beliefs, and her ability to challenge and bring the best out of others is still being shared. Through her 5 challenges, I have realized what is in me, what is in all of us: the ability to help others and to love and appreciate everyone and everything unique in all of us. I thank Rachel for challenging me. I accept her challenge and I will spread her challenge to others. Rachel has created a chain reaction of kindness. I am grateful that she put her thoughts and beliefs into words. For these words have and will continue to impact the world, as each generation is waiting to be challenged.