Three American students who witnessed a massacre at their school have been passing on an inspirational message to Bermuda's students.

The Columbine High School students witnessed the April 20, 1999 tragedy in which gunmen Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold armed themselves, killing 12 students and one teacher and injuring 26 other students before killing themselves.

CedarBridge Academy, Saltus Grammar School, Warwick Academy and Sandy's Middle School students said they were left spellbound after watching the presentation of 'Rachel's Challenge'.

Nicole Nowlin, Nick Baumgart and Craig Scott, who is the brother of Rachel Joy Scott, one of the students mown down in the shooting spree, are the students doing the talks.

Nicole Nowlin said she was shot at point blank range and that it was nothing short of a miracle that she survived. Nick Baumgart who did not get shot, but watched several of his good friends die. Rachel and Nick had gone to the Senior Prom together.

Craig Scott spoke of not only losing a sister, but of having two friends killed. He talked about Rachel's kindness and compassion for other students.

Rachel Scott was prophetic in her writing, a month before she died she wrote "I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same."

One of her killers Eric Harris also wrote: "We need to start a revolution. We need to get chain reaction going here!"

Rachel was kind to students who had disabilities, children who were new at school and especially those who were bullied.

After the assembly, students were asked if they would take up Rachel's Challenge and create a chain reaction and several students voiced how they felt and the messages they received.

Eujorte Outerbridge, 14, said: "I will never tease anyone again, I never really thought how others felt."

Norma Jean Richards, gym teacher, said: "I especially liked when they showed the piece where Rachel had said she would touch many peoples hearts and lives."

Sandy's Middle School, principal, Melvyn Basset, said: "They received a standing ovation. All of our students took up Rachel's Challenge. Students were touched by the presentation, mainly by the fact that these were actual witnesses, it was not something they read.

"This sent a clear message and we reinforced it in our assembly, for them to remember to respect one another."

Principal of CedarBridge Academy, Kalmar Richards said: "I am proud of our students for accepting Rachel's Challenge. It was touching to see so many of them stand up and also so many of our young males make the stand.

"Yesterday there was an awards ceremony for our Learning Support students and a few girls came in to support them - I said they are beginning a chain reaction.

"It has been very positive, many students said they felt like crying, but held back. It will stay with them but, we must reinforce it and keep reminding them to look out for the underdog."

She added: "A teenage boy who accepted the challenge came into my office and I told him that he would be a role model for other young people.

"It was perfect timing, we have raised the bar for attendance and how you carry yourself. The atmosphere has been calm and free of harassment. If we embrace this it will take us to the next level.

"October is Integrity month at CedarBridge and I told students you have accepted the challenge now live it, walk the walk and talk the talk."