Write the letter.

mrsconn23

Dear Prudence,

I am freshly a senior in high school. Since freshman year, there is a boy whom I will call Eric who continuously got picked on for being a pretty stereotypical high school nerd. He has no pop culture knowledge, is in all advanced classes and has almost a perfect GPA, has no social media or even a phone, and claims to spend all his free time studying. I used to participate in some of this bullying, but it was only because I felt like I needed to so I fit in with my peers. I regret it all dearly, and I’d like to apologize to him … but I have no idea how. We aren’t particularly close, and I can’t text or call. I have awful social anxiety so I’m not sure if I could say it to his face. Should I send a letter or something?

— Too Shy to Make Amends

short+sassy

I'm definitely all for a letter.  The LW has social anxiety anyway.  And Eric may not appreciate the LW talking to him at all.  A letter gives enough distance for them to both have their feels, privately.

But it's a good sign of personal growth, especially at such a young age, that the LW wants to at least apologize for their bullying behavior.  Eric may not forgive them, but it might make him feel a little better and have some closure.

Do HS's still have lockers, lol?  If so, the LW could put it in that.  If not, perhaps the LW has Eric's e-mail address or can find it.

kerbohl

I vote to write the letter as well.  We sort of live at a time when we're quick to say something to tear people down, but we hesitate to say things that build people up or let us grow.  And the guilt isn't healthy for LW either.  This will probably help them both.