Whoa, interesting stories!
I used to play in the jazz band back in high school. I was also a cocky SOB in high school. Recently, I was grabbing a burrito from Burritozilla down town and ran into someone that I basically took under my wing in the jazz band. He'd grown up, just like me, but seeing him reminded me of what an asshat I had often been back then. After the pleasantries and a bit of catching up, I basically just laid it all out.
(paraphrasing) "Look, I acted like a complete ass back in high school. I want you to know that now, since I've had a bit of time to reflect, I'm really sorry if I ever mistreated you. My intention was to help you to enjoy jazz band, just like I did, but my behavior was and is inexcusable. I'm really sorry."
After he picked his jaw off the floor, he forgave me and explained that there were some people he was still in contact with that I might want to apologize to. It was a rough couple of days, but I felt absolutely weightless afterward. I'm friends with most of them now.
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