Life Choices: Brother of Columbine victim shares inspirational message

HARTSVILLE, S.C. _ More than 700 people packed the Hartsville First Baptist Church sanctuary Wednesday night to hear Life Choices organization’s Debbie Phillips, aunt of Rachel Scott, the first student killed in the 1999 Columbine tragedy. What they heard instead was a stirring message by Rachel’s brother, Craig Scott. 

Scott told the crowd how Rachel’s life impacted the lives of friends and strangers before and after her death, his reaction when one of the shooters came into the library where he was hiding under a table with two of his friends, and how the tragedy has impacted his own life.

In introducing her nephew, Phillips said she could remember only one other time in the 12 years she has been on the road speaking for Life Choices that their paths have intersected in the same place.

“I am so glad Craig is here,” she said. “The devil overplayed his hand with my family.”

At times tearful and at other times uplifting, Scott’s words reached youth from all four of the schools his aunt had visited earlier in the week – Mayo High School, Hartsville High School, Darlington High School and Hartsville Middle School – who had come to hear his poignant words.

Scott told about how he had looked for the positives in the worst of tragedies.

On April 20, 1999, two students went on a shooting rampage at Columbine and claimed the lives of 12 students and a teacher.  Since that day, Scott, his aunt and other members of his family have toured the nation speaking against teen violence. The programs are based on Rachel Scott’s life and entries in her journals.

Scott’s 12-point message began with asking the audience to think about the influences in their life and to turn the negatives into positives. Because he wanted to focus on the positives, Scott said he went into film-making.

Scott said his sister had a prophetic sense that she was going to die at a young age, and she wanted to make an impact in this world. He said she had a prayer that God would make use of her.

Scott said two journals were publicized after the Columbine shooting, Rachel’s and those of the shooters.

“Rachel was focused on the positives,” Scott told the audience.

He said she wrote in her journal, “I want you to use me to reach the unreachable.”

Scott encouraged those attending to ask for things in prayer in accordance with God’s will as Rachel had done.

In a film presentation, Scott showed many examples of how Rachel reached out to strangers and how she made an impact on their lives, even after her death. He also drew from an essay she had written, entitled “My Ethics/My Codes of Life.” In it, Rachel had written, “My biggest aspect of ethics includes being honest, compassionate and looking for the best in everyone.”

Scott said her simple acts of kindness made big, life-changing differences in the lives of others. He said everyone can make a difference whether a student at school or an adult at work by their kindness to others.

During his presentation, Scott related a very dramatic story about how Rachel impacted the life of a stranger, a business man, who got in touch with his family after seeing Rachel’s picture shortly after her death. The man told them that he had dreams several nights in a row where he saw Rachel’s eyes with tears dropping down to earth and something growing out of the ground.

Scott said when Rachel’s backpack was finally returned to the family by police, his father found her journal inside. When he flipped to the back to see what her last entry was, he saw a picture Rachel had drawn just hours before her death. It was a picture of her eyes, 13 teardrops coming down and a rose growing up to meet the tears.

Scott’s final words came following a video account of the tragedy. Scott said he was in the library that day with two of his friends, Matt and Isaiah, when he heard the shooting begin. The three hid under a table together.

 “I was feeling very afraid,” Scott recalled.

When one of the shooters came into the library, Scott said he felt like he couldn’t breathe. He thought he might be killed. He prayed. He asked God to take away his fear.

Isaiah, one of the few black students in the school, was shot first, Scott said, and then his friend, Matt.

Because of this, Scott said he now challenges others to fight prejudice and not to prejudge others.

Scott said he didn’t know if the shooting had stopped in the library because his ears were still ringing, but he was the first to stand up. He told everyone to run for safety.

“We all ran for our lives,” he said.

As they were running, the shooter came back into the library, he said.

Scott said he was told a girl was lying in the hallway just outside the library, but all he saw was a backpack. He couldn’t tell who it was. He would learn later that the girl was his sister.

Scott said he was grateful to be alive. He went home, blood on his clothes, and waited for his sister. She never came.

When he finished talking about the shooting, he said “sometimes I just don’t know how to transition to the next part.”

He then urged everyone to get on their feet and dance. He said he thought Rachel would like that part.

Phillips returned to the stage and told the audience that everyone thinks stories like the one Scott had just recounted happen other places. She urged those in attendance not to think that way and to do everything possible so that it doesn’t happen in Hartsville. She encouraged students and adults to take time for kindness, respect and understanding for others because you can never know what has transpired in that person’s life. They may have a troubled life, difficult child/parent relationship, drug and alcohol abuse problems, or suicidal thoughts. One word of kindness or encouragement could turn a potentially negative situation into something positive.

The program was brought to Hartsville by First Priority, an organization at Mayo High School started by George Atkins.

“It was so much better than I expected. I never expected so many people would come together,” Atkins said

“I thought it was inspiring and touching,” said Hartsville High student Monique McDonald.

McDonald said she took away from the experience that life is too short and precious to not do what you think is right, regardless of what others might think.