Campbellsville University recently hosted a workshop about conflict resolution. Nick Bloodworth, the director of counseling services at CU, explained the goals of the event. “The goal of the event was just to help students better navigate interpersonal challenges, whether it's in relationships, classrooms or with their friends,” he said. (This illustration was created by ChatGPT.)
Conflict is a natural part of life, whether in college or the workplace. However, how we manage those conflicts, such as listening, communication and resolution can make a significant difference in our relationships and success. At Campbellsville University, a recent workshop about conflict resolution emphasized the importance of learning these skills early.
Nick Bloodworth, the director of counseling services at CU, explained the goals of the event.
“The goal of the event was just to help students better navigate interpersonal challenges, whether it’s in relationships, classrooms or with their friends,” he said. “We focused on effective communication strategies like active listening and some emotional regulation techniques.”
While the workshop gave useful tools for students, the importance of conflict resolution extends far beyond the university. It is a skill that plays a crucial role in almost every aspect of life. From personal relationships to professional situations, the skill to resolve conflicts in a good way can impact everything from academic to career success.
For many students, learning how to manage disagreements starts in their rooms. Camila Rossi, a sophomore from Argentina who shares a dorm room with a friend from Chile, says that communication is key to maintaining a peaceful living environment.
“Living with someone else means you have to be able to talk about problems before they get too big,” Rossi said. “We’ve learned to be honest but also respectful when something bothers us.”
Beyond solving daily disagreements, Rossi points out that communication can also prevent deeper misunderstandings.
“Fortunately, that’s not my case, but sometimes people come from different cultures or have different ways of doing things,” she said. “Knowing how to communicate can really help avoid these type of problems.”
Students studying fields like psychology also recognize the big role of these skills. Remy Terceros, junior from Bolivia majoring in psychology, believes conflict resolution is important for emotional health.
“We learn that avoiding conflict or not handling it correctly can seriously mess up relationships,” he said. “Knowing how to fix disagreements calmly helps in every area of life, not just at school.”
Developing conflict resolution skills early in life builds a good base for stronger relationships, better regulation of emotions, and greater success both personally and professionally. College offers an ideal environment to start practicing these tools and those who invest in learning them now are more likely to have better relationships in the future.
“Learning to resolve conflicts now is important because in the professional world you’re going to have to work with people very different from you,” said Terceros.
Bloodworth agrees, adding that teaching these skills early can set students up for success after graduation.
“No matter what you do for a career, you’re going to have to engage and interact with other people,” he said. “Disagreements are bound to happen, and how you handle them makes all the difference.”