Getting it off my chest

Years ago while in school at Jesuit, there was a young man. I remember his name, but I don't necessarily want to print it here. I remember him being in the accelerated classes, though I could be wrong about that. But I remember more importantly that he was absolutely tortured by some of the other students. I don't recall having a particularly close relationship with him, but I did stand up for him from time to time. I just could never understand - here is this kid, one of the brightest in his 7th grade class, that has to be excited about going to Jesuit. Maybe his parents were elated. Maybe his grandfather had gone to school there. He was obviously bright enough and talented enough. But for some reason, he was teased by others in our class. And his responses just egged them on.

On more than one occasion, my frustration brought me to the counselor, Father Hecker. I am not sure he knew how to help a teary-eyed 13 year old, and Father never found me to see how I was doing. I don't think my classmate ever knew.

So here we are, 25 years removed from 8th grade, and I can't get the thoughts of the bad things they did to him out of my head. One student pulled a chair out from under him, embarrasing him in front of our 8th grade class with Mrs. Kreller. I can still see him walking in front of school. And years later some continued to tease him as he worked at the Esplanade Mall.

I do not understand why this is affecting me so much, but I wanted to apologize to him. I am sorry that you were treated so poorly at a school I love. I wish I had done more to help you. I hope you are doing well, and that you did not take all that personally, even though it clearly had to be torturous. I hope he has found some great way to improve this world. I also hope he has done something great to really show the assholes that made his life hell that they didn't effect him one bit.