Mark Dietrich, SSH' 17, is co-executive director of one of Northeastern University's most popular student groups, Peace Through Play. He joined PTP in 2012 and worked with the kindergarten and first-grade students at the Hurley School this spring, teaching them teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking skills through games like the human knot.
Peace Through Play is one of Northeastern University’s most popular student groups.
Noted Sarah Kilroy, the director of the after school program at the Rafael Hernandez School in Roxbury: “Peace Through Play gives students the chance to get on stage and show their skills. We have had students cry when the volunteers leave and ask to get their emails to stay in touch with them.”
One of these volunteers is co-executive director Mark Dietrich. He joined PTP in 2012 and worked with the kindergarten and first-grade students at the Hurley School this spring, teaching them teamwork, leadership, and critical thinking skills through games like the human knot.
“This was one of my favorite activities because students recognized what we were trying to accomplish,” said Dietrich, SSH’17. As the game’s facilitator, he watched as the kids’ teamwork skills improved over time until they eventually elected a leader who guided the group to success. For him, working to promote this kind of intellectual growth has been what’s made the program so rewarding. As he put it, “Sometimes kids think what we’re doing is lame, but we’re persistent and they become more and more engaged as the school year goes on.”
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