Rachel Scott is an American schoolgirl and the first victim of the Columbine massacre, where in April 1999 two students killed 11 of their peers. For 17 years of her life, the girl managed to write several popular essays, participate in a talent show and successfully test a number of works on religious ethics.
Early biography
Rachel Scott was born on August 5, 1981 in the small town of Denver, Colorado. She was the third of five children born to Darrell Scott and Beth Nimmo. The girl's family preached Christian values. Her father worked as a pastor in a local church, and her mother was involved in raising children.
When Rachel was seven years old, her parents decided to divorce. Despite the break in relations, they maintained joint custody of the children. A year later, the girl, along with her mother and sisters, moved to Littleton. There, in 1995, Beth Nimmo entered into a second marriage. The family warmly welcomed her new husband into the house.
As a child, Rachel was an energetic and sociable child. She always showed concern for other people and came to the rescue in difficult situations. At an early age, the girl had a great passion for art photography and poetry. Prior to joining Columbine, Rachel was educated at Dutch Creek Elementary School. Scott was an attentive student with a talent for music and acting, drama and public debate. She was an active member of the school forensic and drama communities.
Teenage years
At the age of 11, the girl became interested in Christian teaching. Together with her aunt and uncle, she became a frequent visitor to the church in Louisiana. It was at this young age that Rachel finally decided to abide by Bible laws at all costs. In the future, she never contradicted her worldview.
By 1998, the girl had no friends at school. Friends distanced themselves from her due to the fact that Rachel spent most of her free time in prayer and searching for herself. In addition, many guys often laughed at the girl, believing that high religiosity did not suit her. Among the ill-wishers were Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the initiators of the shooting at the school.
By the age of 17, Rachel Scott was actively attending three Christian churches. She was also a member of the Breakthrough Church youth group. The girl was engaged in the interpretation of the Bible, put on dances at Sunday services, wrote articles on the topic of spiritual self-awareness.
Personal life
As a teenager, Rachel became popular with her peers. Classmates often invited her to parties and walks, but they were always refused. The girl argued her behavior by the fact that at such events she could succumb to temptation and drink alcohol. In addition, she had a serious relationship with a boyfriend, but Rachel decided to end it, fearing that such a relationship could develop into physical intimacy.
According to friends and acquaintances, Scott often chose rather eccentric clothes: hats, felts, scarves, pajamas and dresses. With the help of her unusual outfits, she sought to attract the attention of others. The girl often talked about her desire to become a famous Hollywood actress. In her free time, Scott enjoyed watching classic films and observing the behavior of actors. She sincerely believed that this knowledge would be useful to her in the future.
Creative success
If tragedy had been avoided, Rachel Scott could have become a famous writer or actress. In 1988, she won a high school talent show by performing a parody of several popular American songs.
In addition, for several years, Rachel kept a personal diary, where all her thoughts were recorded. In her notes, she often turned to Christ, calling him her best friend. The journal entries include many poems, drawings, prayers, and reports of efforts in church organizations. At the same time, the girl recorded sad moments, including the bullying of other children in relation to sick and disadvantaged schoolchildren. Scott felt their problems from the inside and always offered her own support.
A few months before her death, Rachel wrote an essay entitled “My Ethics. My Life Codes”, in which she described her own views on life. The girl shared that her vision is fundamentally different from the worldview of other people. She declared her sincere belief in the act of compassion. In her opinion, the real beauty of a person is manifested in his relationship to other people. Scott actively promoted compassionate values and tried to teach her peers to forgive, love and help.
It is interesting that during her lifetime, all those close to Rachel perceived her philosophy as a kind of utopia. However, later the thoughts of the American schoolgirl gained wide publicity. Millions of people around the world began to follow her advice, trying to change the world for the better.
The last day of life
Rachel Scott was the first person to be shot during the Columbine High School massacre. Eric Harris shot the girl four times while she was having lunch with her friend on the lawn at the west entrance to the campus. The bullets hit the chest, left arm, left leg and temple. Rachel's friend was also killed, she was shot eight times.
In total, 13 people were killed during the terrorist attack, and another 24 students were seriously injured. After the shooting, the criminals committed suicide.
Rachel Scott was buried at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Littleton on April 24, 1999. People still come to her memorial, whom she managed to help during her short life.
