About three weeks ago, nearly every student in the school filed into the CPA to hear the story of Rachel Scott. Her uncle spoke of all the things she stood for before her tragic death in the massacre at Columbine High School in 1999. The presentation’s message boiled down to something fairly simple: a little kindness can go a long way.

A couple of weeks before that, the September issue of Torch hit the racks. The editorial contained a harsh indictment of the behavior of students at the Glenbrook North-Glenbrook South football game in light of supposed efforts of compassion in our school.

Not long after the game, a couple of mean-spirited Twitter accounts were created, both of which used specific names in unsolicited messages aimed to insult students. Those responsible cowered behind Internet anonymity.

The response after the assembly was overwhelmingly positive. Facebook and Twitter buzzed with praise for the presentation and those who worked hard to bring it to the school. The post-workshop discussions were filled with people expressing how much they were moved by the experience. Numerous Spartans declared it the best All School Workshop they’d been a part of.

Teachers, too, seemed to be affected by Rachel’s story. From AP Government to Team Sports, they challenged their students to avoid negativity, to perform an act of kindness for a stranger, or to simply offer a peer a sincere compliment. And students, for the most part, have claimed to be more than willing to comply, though the success of these efforts is still more or less up in the air.

The message that Rachel’s Challenge brought to GBN wasn’t anything new. Far from it. It’s something all of us have heard at least a thousand times over in countless different contexts and from countless different people. In some ways it’s a little trite. Even so, it’s a message that is as relevant as ever, especially as we, as a school community, seemed to be in danger of straying from the basic principle of simple human kindness only weeks ago, both in the stands at GBS and in our feeds on Twitter and Facebook.

But this time, for whatever reason, we seemed to particularly like the way that message was presented to us. Our challenge to you, then, is simple. Act. Prove that this really was your favorite All School Workshop, that you really were as moved by it as the Internet seems to suggest. Prove that your teachers’ efforts aren’t in vain.

Then prove to the rest of the world what our school really is about.

We can’t allow this opportunity at a renewed spark of positivity to fizzle and die out. Don’t let this be a waste on the part of the administration, your teachers, and the number of Spartans who already exemplify Rachel Scott’s world view. Even after the 30 negativity-free days your teacher encouraged you to undertake are up, or that slip of paper with your random act of kindness is handed in, keep pushing for positivity. Take an attitude of good will with you when you go home after school, when you head to work, to worship, to run errands. Reach out to others for the simple sake of making another person just a little bit happier.

We already know our school has the talent, drive and dedication to do amazing things in the worlds of academics, athletics and extracurriculars. Let’s prove that we can make them happen in an even bigger way, too. It shouldn’t be that hard, really. You’ve heard it all before.