The Columbine High School shootings in 1999 may be considered one of the most infamous school shootings in American history.

Two high school seniors murdered 12 of their classmates and one teacher, injuring more than 20 others, before committing suicide.

Seventeen-year-old Rachel Scott was the first victim killed in the shooting. Her death was undoubtedly tragic, but out of that horror has come something good — Rachel’s Challenge, a nonprofit dedicated to building safe school environments.

Speakers from Rachel’s Challenge have travelled across the country, telling Rachel’s story and her message of kindness and acceptance. On Thursday morning, Northside High School students were able to hear that message.

The school welcomed Michaela Simonds, a speaker all the way from Colorado, who told the students about Rachel’s life, her passion for people and her inspirational capacity for kindness. She spoke of the need to spread kindness among one another, to start a “chain reaction.”

According to Simonds, Rachel had big plans to make a difference in the world. She kept vivid journals of poetry and personal stories.

Written on the cover of her last journal were the words, “I won’t be labeled as average.” The police found that journal on the day of her death; a bullet had pierced the surface.

Simonds told stories of how Rachel embraced the ones who needed a friend the most — a disabled student named Adam who was the victim of bullying, a girl left alone at a lunch table.

“Your words have the power to hurt or the power to heal,” Simonds said at the presentation. “The point is that Rachel is still making a difference today.”

Northside seniors Laly Andujar and Cashmir Blount said they found the Rachel’s Challenge presentation to be inspirational, and neither of them had heard of the nonprofit until now.

Andujar said the story of the girl sitting alone at a lunch table spoke to her the most, as one never knows what someone might be going through at that moment.

“You’ve got to think about (how) they might have a bad background,” she said.

Blount said the main takeaway for him was the reminder to always be kind to people, a simple proposition but often forgotten.

“For me, I got involved because of the Adam story,” Simonds said. “I always thought, ‘Man, I would love to be a part of this.’”

“Most schools are very receptive,” she said. “It’s a powerful story.”

Rachel’s Challenge also held a community event on Thursday night to share Rachel’s story with the public and is also planning to begin a FOR (Friends of Rachel) Club at the school with the help of the Student Government Association.

At the end of the presentation, the entire auditorium gave Simonds — and the story of Rachel — a standing ovation.

In a way, it was symbolic of Northside’s role in furthering Rachel’s message. It was another link in the chain reaction.