Rachel’s Challenge opening minds, hearts

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Students from Hinsdale Central High School performed skits for Friends of Rachel, a group of students at Minooka Community High School who want to make a difference in how students interact with one another at school. (Herald Photo by Heidi Terry-Litchfield — hlitchfield@morrisdailyherald.com)

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MINOOKA — Tabitha Woodridge, a senior at Minooka Community High School, believes the world is far too big to keep a narrow perspective.

“You have to get to know different people,” Woodridge said. “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

Woodridge moved into the district from Hinsdale Central High School. At her former school, she was a part of Breaking Down the Walls, a group that encourages students to become  more compassionate and less violent, judgmental and prejudice toward their peers.

Woodridge had participated with Breaking Down the Walls since eighth grade. She said it taught her how to treat people.

Students at Minooka Community High School have recently turned their focus to a similar program, called Rachel’s Challenge.

Together, they are setting out to make a difference in the lives of their classmates.

Rachel’s Challenge is a non-profit group formed in memory of Rachel Scott, the first person killed during the Columbine massacre in 1999.

Woodridge said she brought her experience to MCHS because she feels, having been with the HCHS group since the beginning, she can help her new classmates not make the same mistakes the other group made.

“I’ve been involved from the ground up,” she said. “So this group won’t have to go through the same down falls. I have a lot of ideas and know how to step out and do them.”

Earlier this school year, students at both the Morris and Minooka high schools viewed presentations by the outreach program, which also urges students to keep a compassionate and less-judgmental attitude towards their peers.

Friends of Rachel, a non-school sanctioned group of students at Minooka High School, have taken the challenge and meet with volunteer staff.

“They exist to demonstrate the challenges of Rachel,” said Dave DiLorenzo, community relations director at MCHS.

One of the ideas the group has put into motion is to hold a mix-it-up lunch. The effort encourages students to sit with people they don’t know at lunch and get to know them. The idea is to build a sense of community and to be aware of other people.

Woodridge said she felt MCHS was already ahead of other schools.

“I came here expecting them not to be accepting,” she said. “No one has treated me badly. That’s how I know it will work here.”

Last Friday, the Breaking Down the Walls students came to MCHS to show the skits they perform at their school and to others. The skits are used to deliver their message.

“You are so retarded,” said one of the actors to a girl on the stage.

As he walked away, she looked into the audience and solemnly said, “I wonder if he knows my brother has Down’s Syndrome and is really retarded, maybe then he’d understand.”

Skit after skit, the MCHS students watched intently as the Hinsdale students acted out scenarios in which they put down others, spread rumors and were confronted by those they were attacking.

After their skits were completed, they explained everything they said were based off  true stories. It came from either their experiences or those of classmates who brought the stories to them.

While at times they wanted to laugh, the MCHS students said they knew the stories were true, and they have experienced some themselves.

Woodridge said students on the two Minooka campuses are taking notice of their efforts. Now, even students who aren’t members can be found doing random acts of kindness.

“There is a boy here who holds the door open for everyone every day,” she said. “He speaks to everyone as they enter, he is making a difference.”

Woodridge is journaling about her journey through the program because she wants to remember and be remembered for what she is doing.

“I just want to make a mark,” she said.

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