Nice interaction with one of our former youth
I was sitting at our front desk about 30 minutes ago, fiddling with a scanner that would not cooperate, and a young man walked in who lived at Spectrum a while ago. I smiled and greeted him, and he looked at me and said, “I am here to see one of the staff, but I want to apologize to you for the way I often spoke to you back when I was living here.” (I knew what he was talking about. I originally fought with the State to get this boy out of an abusive and neglectful home, and into Spectrum, and then when he arrived he was extremely difficult to deal with, including giving me lip every single time I saw him.)
He continued, “At the time I didn’t like the different living situations I was in at Spectrum, and that’s why I acted that way, but now that I look back at it, I realize it was what I needed and it really helped me. I have my own apartment now and I have been sober for over a year.”
I stood up, shook his hand and said, “I really appreciate your apologizing to me. It takes a big man to do that. It shows character. And I am really glad to know you are doing so well.”
And he went off to see his counselor.
A nice way to end the week.