New Choices Inc. offered a series of student empowering programs and strategies that would help equip them to combat bullying and ally feelings of isolation & despair by creating a culture of kindness and compassion called “Acts of Kindness”. With the help of the Guidance Counselors, teaching staff, parents and student determination we are working to make a change. 

 

The goal is to encourage students to start a chain of kindness and make positive changes in the way they treat others in their school community.  This is an addition to our bullying prevention program. 

 

Random Acts of Kindness is modeled from a program called “Rachel’s Challenge”.  

The program was started based on the principles of, Rachel Joy Scott, the first student who lost her life during the 1999 Columbine High School shootings. After the shootings her family found numerous quotes and messages that she had written.  They were so inspiring they wanted to share them with others. 

 

  Rachel had a theory” if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go.”  This was one of Rachel’s theories -  ”Rachel’s Challenge “ was for others to: 

 

1)Always look for the best in others; eliminate your own pre-judgments about what others must be like or why they do things - if you look for the worst in someone you will likely find it, but if you consistently and repeatedly look for the best in someone, it will eventually be revealed.

2)  Dare to dream. Imagine the world you want to live in, write down your goals, and keep a journal so that you can track your progress.  Dream big, you never know what lies ahead or what unbelievable circumstances may come in your life.

3) Choose positive influences and role models for your life.  What we absorb is what we become. Surround yourself with positive influences and one to yourself.

4) Always be on the lookout for the opportunity to speak kind words or do a kind deed.   “It’s not about one big opportunity in being “kind” to someone, or making a meaningful difference; it’s about all the simple little things we can do that we can do that make a lasting difference in the lives of those we come in contact with every day. 

 

5) Start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.   Reach out to those that are often left out.

 

We are devoted to preventing violence and bullying by challenging youth and adults to spread acts of kindness and compassion. We believe that compassion is the greatest form of love humans have to offer. If we can get just one person to go out of their way to show compassion, then it may start a chain reaction of the same. One act of kindness just might change someone’s life or help us in our fight to break the cycle of violence and abuse that we see so often in our community.