Article: In most cases, talking to your parents about how their fighting is upsetting you is a good thing. It's possible that your parents don't know that you can hear their arguments, or they may not realize how upset you are. They might think that their fights are no big deal, and haven't thought about it from your perspective. As much as you want their fighting to stop immediately, it's best if you stay away (if possible) during your parents' fight. Wait until they've calmed down, and tell them that you want to talk about something that's been bothering you. You are making a mature decision to talk to your parents about how their fighting is affecting you, which is great! To increase the chances of having a good conversation with the outcome you are hoping for, you need to try to communicate effectively. You should begin by explaining to your parents what you observe from your perspective. For example, “Mom and Dad, it seems like you have been having a lot of fights lately, especially in the mornings when we're all getting ready.” Because you want your parents to understand things from your perspective, it can be a good idea to let them know what you think about the situation, even if what you think is that you are totally confused. For example, you could follow up by saying “I'm not really sure why there have been so many fights lately. Maybe it's because you guys have been working extra shifts or because you have to bring me to school early for band practice.” Be honest about how you are feeling, and hopefully your parents will listen, be able to reassure you, and will decide to change their behavior. For example, you can continue the conversation by saying “Anyway, it's been pretty stressful. I'm worried that you're mad because of me, and I'm worried that you're going to split up.” Don't forget to tell your parents what you want. Of course you may really just want them to stop fighting altogether, but that might be unrealistic. You can, however, ask them to try keep you out of it, or to do their best to argue in private. If you are nervous about remembering everything you want to say to your parents, or if you're worried that you'll be really emotional, it might help you to write things out before you talk to them. Make sure that your message includes all of the steps outlined above (about telling them how things seem to you, etc.), and then rehearse it. While it's probably best for you to try to talk to your parents face-to-face, if you are too nervous, then writing them a letter may also help. This could give them time to digest what you're telling them and talk it over together. If you write your parents, you still want to communicate effectively, so think about the steps we explained above so that you know what to include your letter. Hopefully, your parents will be willing to talk to you about what's been going on between them and can explain why they've been fighting. If they are opening to talking, do your best to listen to them without interrupting. With luck, you guys can all begin to work it out, and may be able to come up with a plan about how to handle stress, disagreements and fights in the future. If you're not sure about whether or not you should talk to your parents, if you're not sure what you should say to them when you do talk to them, or if you've talked to them but nothing has changed, you should try to find a trusted adult to talk to. Pick someone who cares about you, who you can trust, and who look out for you. Think about going to a relative, a school counselor, your favorite teacher, or your religious leader for advice. It's possible that your parents may suggest that the family goes to counseling or therapy. They may decide to do this after you've talked to them, but even if you haven't gotten around to that, they may realize on their own that their fighting is getting out of control and suggest counseling.  You may not like the sound of this at all, especially if you are shy or private or are just worried that it will be boring. Remember though that it's a good sign! If your parents suggest you all go to counseling, it means that they care about trying to keep the family safe and happy.
Question: What is a summary of what this article is about?
Decide if you want to talk to your parents about their fights. Choose the right time to talk to your parents. Describe to your parents how things seem to you. Tell your parents what you think. Explain how you feel. Tell your parents what you want. Write out what you want to say in advance. Consider writing your parents a letter instead. Listen to your parents' explanations. Talk to someone you trust about your parents' fighting. Be open to going to family therapy.

A good mentor will help you learn to do things, but not do them for you. A mentor leads by example. For example, an academic mentor may offer efficiency tricks, advice, and examples to show you smart alternatives for success, but not help you copy edit your history essay in the waning moments before it is due. This is the difference between a tutor and a mentor. A good mentor will:  Assess your strengths and weaknesses Help you understand the structure and organization of the topic Introduce new perspectives and correct any wrong thinking Boost your ability to make decisions Familiarize you with the tricks of the trade Introduce you to important resources and useful references This type of mentoring usually consists of face-to-face sessions with someone who excels in the subject matter you are studying has the time to offer you a mentorship, and an interest in your academic achievement. Consider:  Professors, instructors, and other faculty Older or more experienced students Siblings or other family members Think about mentors who excel at the sport you're interested in developing. While athletic ability is an important part of a sporting mentor, also consider the human side of the relationship when considering an athletic mentor. A good soccer mentor will be a good sport, an intelligent athlete, and an all-around person as well as being a phenomenal soccer player. Consider:  Coaches and assistants Experienced players on your team or other teams Professional athletes or retired athletes Trainers Business and other professional mentors are usually successful workers in the field you hope to crack into, who will be able to offer you some tricks of the trade. This could be anything from stock trading to blues guitar. Think about who does what you want to do better than you do it. Consider:  Colleagues and business acquaintances An old boss, though not a current supervisor Workers with a great reputation Develop a relationship with someone you admire personally, not because of what they do, but who they are and how they do it. Think of people who you'd like to be like, for no particular reason. A personal mentor might be:  A neighbor Your favorite bartender or barista Your personal style icon Someone you go to church with Your record store guy or girl A member of a social club you're a part of A mentor might be a neighbor or a classmate you admire, but it might also be someone you've never met. Rainer Maria Rilke's famous book Letters to a Young Poet chronicles the correspondence between the famous poet (Rilke) and a young student writer who sent him some poems and asked for advice. Consider:  Successful people you may have read about and felt some connection to People with a considerable and approachable Internet presence Anyone who fits any of the criteria for a mentor, but you don't know personally yet
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One-sentence summary --
Understand the role of a mentor. Consider an academic mentor. Consider sports and recreational mentoring. Consider a business mentor. Consider a personal mentor. Think about different ways to communicate.