What does Lara do to ameliorate the hurt she causes Amal by asking her to give a speech about Muslims and terrorism?

Amal is understandably upset when Lara, a student leader at McCleans, asks her to give a speech to the student body about the Islam religion's connection to terrorism. When Amal angrily but eloquently tells Lara what is wrong with this request, Lara ultimately responds by apologizing, touching Amal's shoulder, and smiling "reassuringly" (257). Finding that her anger has dissolved as a result of Lara's demonstration that she is trying, Amal smiles back, saying, "In her own way, I feel as though she's turning the oven dial down" (257).