Hostility Research Paper

Hostility is all around us. Whether it is in our community or even the country as a whole, the feeling of hatred is seemingly unavoidable. As we go through our everyday lives, we encounter difficult situations and interactions with others. As citizens of this incredible country, we must stick together, and we must treat one another with the same respect and compassion that we would like to receive ourselves. However, when watching the news, or reading the paper, how many times do you see something positive versus something negative? The difference is mind blowing, and looking at the current state of our country, I imagine the potential we have to make a difference. The future of the “land of the free” entirely rests in our hands. We have the …show more content…
Earlier this year, my perspective on these words was drastically altered. I have always viewed myself as a kind and good-hearted person, never stopping to take those traits into consideration. It wasn’t until an organization called “Rachel’s Challenge” came to visit our school. We were told that the organization was going to talk to us about anti-bullying and kindness. To a ninth grader, it didn’t initially spark an interest as we had been somewhat jaded by continued exposure to this topic. Besides, the primary reason for most students’ excitement was that we were missing part of a class for the presentation. Filing into the auditorium with my friends and classmates, I had no idea that this would be one of the most motivational and heart wrenching experiences I would ever go through. The organization is based on the belief system of a young girl named Rachel Joy Scott. Rachel did not live past the age of eighteen. She was a senior at Columbine High School, and was the first innocent life claimed in what would become known as the worst high school shooting in history. Rachel was a firm believer that any small act of kindness can start a chain reaction. While Rachel isn’t alive today, her spirit has lived on through her inspiring words and …show more content…
Learning her story, both how she was prior to her death and what was discovered about her afterwards, has moved me beyond words. Sometimes, all it takes to cheer someone up or make them feel better, is one spontaneous act of kindness. It doesn't have to be a large gesture. Something as small as sitting with someone who is alone at lunch can make all the difference in the world. A few weeks ago, I was extremely stressed about school and grades. I wasn’t used to the intensity of high school, and it has certainly been a large adjustment from last year. I have high expectations for myself, and definitely was not used to the grades that I had been receiving this year. One day, I was eating lunch with my friends, and we were talking about a certain assignment. One of my friends told us that we don’t need to worry. Everything will work out, and we just needed to keep doing our best. That was exactly what I needed to hear. While it may have seemed like a small gesture to her, it was much larger to me. As I continue through school and the rest of my life, I am certain that the words of Rachel Joy Scott will remain in my head. They will act as a constant reminder of the importance of kindness and