Teresa Billingsley was a child with anger problems and this gives her firsthand knowledge and experience of how difficult it can be to struggle with this dilemma. As an adult she noticed young people acting out, being more violent and disrespectful to their parents and those in authority. She did not have the answers but was determined to do something to try to see what she could do in her community to attack this crisis. She volunteered her time with different youth programs that catered to youth with behavioral troubles. She could relate to them and identify with their need to be heard and properly guided. Later, she received training through the Community Action Program (CAP) to teach students to be Peer Mediators and she is also a certified mediator. She discovered irrespective of their geographical locations, economic status and family make-up, all of the young people she interacted with were angry about something. They had much to say and could not find a safe place or safe adult willing to hear and understand them. So many thought they were alone.
At a difficult time in her own life, she was asked to teach Anger Management classes. Every student who entered the room did not want to be there, but were forced by their parents, court order or a policy from their schools in order to return to their respective campuses or homes. The students most adamant about not wanting to be in class, became the most disappointed when the course was over. They began to express how helpful her classes were and they wished it was longer. They said they wished she would do more classes and provide instruction for parents as well. She learned a lot from her students. She had no idea young people had so many concerns they were bottling up, and reacting to.