Students at SHS need not fear if they are in need of a person to talk to, because The Peer Mediation Program lets students talk about issues they may be having with their peers. This program is used as an alternative to talking to administrators.

Guidance counselor Mrs. Stephanie Kachur, who is in her first year overseeing the program, says that mediators simply sit down and chat with students in distress and try to isolate and solve their issues. This process typically requires two mediators working together to help the student or students with their troubles.

These mediators are juniors and seniors who are trained by Butler University, and they are given their positions through a vote that is broadcasted through the announcements and at the cafeteria during lunch periods.

Kachur says that she feels like students are more comfortable discussing their problems with fellow students rather than with administration.

“I think kids feel less inferior when it’s a peer and not an administrator or a dean or something like that taking control,” Kachur said. “They can talk more freely than normal.”

Kachur also says that the program helps to give staff members the opportunity to get other work done as opposed to dealing with the problems of students.

“Everyone’s busy,” Kachur said.  “Counselors are busy, the deans are busy, administrators are busy, so it’s one way that we can free them up and use our own students to help out with the conflicts in the school.”

Kachur has only had to deal with one issue through the program so far this year, but she says that it went very well and that the student with the issue left happy. She says the the student came back and asked to talk to the mediators again, which Kachur takes as a sign that the student enjoyed what the program has to offer.

Kachur says that if you want more information on how to become a peer mediator or on how to set up a session with a mediator, it is best to come down and talk to her. She also says she is planning on running something through the announcements about the program to try and let more people know about it.

Senior Chloe Marsh, who helps out with the program, says that she likes that she and other upperclassmen get the chance to help out underclassmen in need.

“I really enjoy helping them figure out their problems because I can relate to issues that they have,” Marsh said.

The program is still looking for more people to get involved, both as mediators and as students that can use it to talk about/ work out their problems. As stated earlier, go talk to Kachur for more information.