The world can be a wild and unpredictable place. Along the way, we encounter people, places, and experiences that challenge us—sometimes in ways that threaten to change who we are at our core. If we’re not careful, these influences can shape us into something we were never meant to be.
As I travel the country speaking to students and staff in schools, one message I emphasize repeatedly is this: ONE person can change the world.
I know this firsthand because one person changed mine.
Growing up, I attended a private school from first through eighth grade. But when I transitioned to a public high school, I was not well received. My freshman year was incredibly difficult—filled with loneliness, rejection, and uncertainty. I often tell schools across the country that I understand why kids hurt each other. Whether in school or in life, people can be mean. The way we treat one another matters. The words we speak, the kindness we show (or don’t show), and the way we acknowledge—or ignore—someone can completely shape their experience.
By the end of my freshman year, I was exhausted and discouraged. I was ready to give up. Sensing my struggle, my father sat me down and walked me through Psalm 139—reminding me that God didn’t make a mistake in creating me. He told me that I was designed for a purpose, that I was placed in my mother’s womb for a reason. His words gave me a small boost of encouragement, but it wasn’t until a guy named Andy came into my life that everything truly changed.
Andy had heard I could sing and asked if I wanted to join a band he was putting together. That simple invitation changed everything.
Before that moment, I dreaded waking up every morning. After meeting Andy, I had a reason to get out of bed. He introduced me to the other guys in the band, and suddenly, I was part of something bigger than myself. I wasn’t an outcast anymore—I belonged. That one friendship shifted my entire high school experience.
Looking back, I realize that Andy changed the room for me. And because of that, I made a decision: Everywhere I go, I want to be the person who changes the room instead of letting the room change me.
One Person Can Change Everything
Just the other night, I heard a powerful testimony that reinforced this idea—that one person can change everything.
The testimony came from a man who had spent time in prison. On his very first day in lock-up, another inmate approached him and gave him some unexpected advice:
"This place has the power to change you. It’s like a pot of boiling water."
Then he gave him three analogies:
You can be like a carrot. The boiling water will make you soft, weak, and broken.
You can be like an egg. The boiling water will harden you, making you bitter and cold.
Or you can be like a coffee bean. The boiling water won’t change you—you’ll change the water.
That one piece of advice transformed his entire experience. Instead of letting prison harden or break him, he chose to be the coffee bean. Today, he’s no longer a meth dealer—he’s a multi-millionaire motivational speaker who inspires others to rise above their circumstances.
You Have the Power to Make a Difference
Never underestimate the power of your presence, your words, and your actions.
ONE person can change the world.
So, never believe the lie that you don’t matter or that you can’t make a difference. Choose to be the person who changes the room—who brings hope, encouragement, and kindness wherever you go.
Because the room doesn’t have to change you.
You can change the room.
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