I did it.

I apologized to one of my students, and I am still thinking about it.<br><br>We had been doing an activity together during lunchtime. In the moment, I got frustrated and yelled at him, “What did I just say?! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE FOR A MINUTE.” <br><br>A random kid yelled out “WHOA.” A bunch of other kids stared. He looked crestfallen and walked away. <br><br>I immediately said, “I’m sorry,” but he didn’t hear me. I wanted to tell him that I wasn’t mad at him, but at myself for losing my temper. <br><br>I’m an 8th-grade English teacher on a 650-person campus. I don’t have his class, so I didn’t know what his schedule looked like. I only knew he was in the morning advisory group I supervise. I left messages with several teachers, begging them to have him find me between classes. I didn’t see him all day. It was excruciating. <br><br>Right before the last bell, I saw him in the hallway. I ran up to him. You guys, I AM SO EMOTIONAL. Tears in my eyes, voice cracking. <br><br>“Hey [Student’s Name], I wanted you to know that I am REALLY sorry for yelling at you at lunch. I feel awful. I love having you in my advisory group, and I’m really grateful that you always come to lunchtime activities that I host. My behavior was completely unacceptable. Please forgive me.” <br><br>He was very kind and gracious and immediately forgave me. I told him that he deserved the apology and that I should not have yelled at him, even if I was frustrated. <br><br>I feel better. I made a mistake, I owned up to it, and I apologized.