Being older, we see things in a different light than fourth graders do. It would have helped me a lot in my relations with others if someone had taught me conflict resolution skills to deal with my problems without getting angry. Now, Amanda helps her high school classmates check that anger at the door. She's a Peer Helper in the school's Peer Tutor Program. This four person Peer Helper team completed an intensive one-year training program to teach and mediate conflict resolutions.
Teens are intense.
The Peer Helpers buffer several mediations a week. Some are small squabbles and others can be potentially explosive. Like, this September when racial tensions seeped through her high school's grounds. There was a situation with a racial issue in the school. Friends heard rumors about a racial situation that was going on.