A Peer Helper is a student with many leadership qualities who is a positive role model to the rest of the student body at The Berkeley Institute.

Peer Helpers, along with all Berkeley prefects, are also trained as Peer Mediators. The difference is the depth in which the Peer Helpers training in the peer mediating section is carried out. Unlike the prefects, the Peer Helpers have training on Mondays and Wednesdays as well as a subject class.

The positive qualities of the Peer Helpers become channeled into the classroom because Peer Helpers also serve as peer tutors and assistants to teachers. When a student doesn't understand how the teacher has taught a certain topic, the teacher may ask the Peer Helper to break it down for him/her. These peer assistants are well respected by the students, and many of them look up to the Peer Helpers as role models.

There are 12 of them in all, but they aren't all in one class at a time. They branch off towards different subjects that they are strong in (such as maths, history, dance, etc.) in order to help the students in those classes. These Peer Helpers have been in their positions so they have the experience that the students need.

Having a peer assistant in the classroom not only benefits the students and the teacher, but it also benefits the Peer Helper. It allows the Peer Helpers to push themselves to become the positive persons that all the students expect them to be. It also allows them to grow internally and push themselves mentally. A Peer Helper may start out a little shy but grow out of it when she sees that people are succeeding because of the help she is giving.

As a result of this, the Peer Helpers have now set a good example not only for the students in the classrooms they serve but the entire student body. Having such an aura has had a positive effect on those students who look up to them. Peer Helpers don't want the students to look at them differently. They want the students to know that the Peer Helpers are students just like them lending a hand and an extra boost in the right direction. It is easier for the students to open up to them because they know what the students went through and they're not seen as just another authority figure.

The presence of the Peer Helper and Peer Mediator in the classrooms and in the courtyards has also improved the climate of the school. There are now fewer fights occurring, and teachers have noticed a vast change within the school. It was found that the children who were skylarking and causing the momentary fights were the ones without the help needed. They are getting the help now, thanks to the Peer Helpers, and as a result have become more settled.

Many of the Peer Helpers/Peer Mentors didn't have a Peer Mentor in their previous years. One Peer Helper had said that he would have liked to have access to such guidance because in S1 he really struggled and it is now one of his main reasons why he feels good about helping others to progress.

The remarkable comments that the Peer Helpers and Peer Mediators receive and the positive changes around the school help build the Peer Helpers' self esteem. Having such confidence will only allow the Peer Helpers and Peer Mediators to move forward and therefore continue to increase the productivity of all the students of The Berkeley Institute.

As Peer Helpers we are hopeful that we impact the students in such a way that they remember us and one day want to become peer mentors/mediators to help others just as we did.