I’m sure we’ve all, at one time or another, wondered how just one person could make an impact, make a difference. My son (and I) were both blessed with an opportunity to do exactly that a few days ago.

Because of the sensitive nature of the situation, I won’t go into much detail, but will concentrate instead on how we saw an opportunity to do some good and make a difference, because the opportunity exists everywhere for each one of us - we just have to recognize it.

The last few days of the Tyler’s trip brought about an event involving two other Student Ambassadors. Both were at fault, both made serious errors in judgment, yet Student A chose to point the finger of blame and make SERIOUS allegations against Student B and adopted a victim role to escape consequences. Student A was flown home a day early while Student B was left to suffer the stares and silence of the rest of the group…alone.

I found out about the situation when I called Tyler to check in with him and see how the trip was going. He told me Student A’s version of what had happened. When I asked what Student B had to say, Tyler said he didn’t know because no one was talking to Student B anymore. This really bothered me and my “mom” gene kicked in and my heart went out to Student B immediately.

So, I told Tyler that I had a serious job for him to do. I told him that Student B was just as far away from home as he was, yet unlike him, Student B was being shunned by the entire group and was completely alone. Because the situation really didn’t involve any of the other kids on the trip (other than in their reactions to what was going on), I told Tyler I saw an opportunity for him to make a difference, and as his mother, I required him to take it. (Sometimes it really sucks to have me for a mom!)

I told Tyler to reach out to Student B and encourage other kids to do the same. I told him that he didn’t need to get involved in the situation, but he DID need to let Student B know that he was not alone and that there was at least one kid on the trip who was willing to put principles above personalities (even if his mom made him do it.)

As a firm believer in practicing what you preach, I called Student B’s parents and did the same thing. I let them know that while I didn’t know the details of what had happened, I was not sitting here thinking their student was the monster Student A would have us all believe. I told them I was praying for them and would gladly stand with them at the airport when we were all there waiting to pick up our kids so they would not be alone and apart from everyone else. I also told them that I had instructed Tyler to do the same with their child.

They were so appreciative and kept telling me what a wonderful person and mother I was. That was not the point for me, nor why I did what I did and required of Tyler what I required of him.

For me, it was important to show my son that in situations where it’s one person’s word against another and one party is spreading rumors and attacking the character of the other, ignoring the rumors is sometimes not enough. Sometimes you have to take a stand and reach out to the person being attacked and show support, whether you like that person or not, whether they’re your best friend or a stranger, whether the rest of the group agrees or not. THAT is practicing principles over personalities and is almost always the best bet in any controversial situation.

Tyler and I did not solve the situation, but we did bring some comfort to some people who were hurting and being made to feel the whole world was suddenly against them. Tyler and I both agree that if he were Student B and I were Student B’s parents, we’d want someone to reach out to us and that it would make a big difference for us.

Ironically, I think this situation is what helped Tyler “get the point” of what the People to People organization’s motto of “peace through understanding” is really all about.