Doing The Right Thing After You've Done The Wrong Thing

Good evening Kristen,

You are so right..it is the beginning of the healing process for all involved. Life will never be the same for him but he has taken the high road and will be a better person down the road.

Kristen,  Sometimes kids get mixed up with the wrong people and are in trouble before they know it.  I hope this young mans letter was from the heart, and his path will lead him in the right direction.  I hope the people he hurt by doing this will have forgiveness in their hearts.

He has taken a positive step. For complete healing the community and individuals must offer their forgiveness. He'll still face the consequences because all choices have consequences, whether good or bad.

Kristen,  this is the first step in the right direction for this young man.  And, while the authorities may not be impressed nor the woman in charge of the cemetery, it was the right thing to do for him, his family and "his social circle."  With any luck, he will see that he may not want to keep company with others who have this sort of odd bent of behavior while drinking.  And, while he didn't harm the living, he still did by disrepecting their loved ones and relatives. 

Sad and senseless. 

Great post Kristen................refreshing to see an apology from an 18 year old for what he did........his parents are to be commended also.

Kristen,

This speaks to the true character of the young man. 

Hopefully he can forgive himself... and those that were wronged can forgive him also.

Hi Kristen, He sounds sincerely sorry for his actions. I remember doing some crazy stupid pranks as a kid myself and having to apologize. And this kid apologized publicly, against the advice of his attorney, so he says (Ms Burgess doesn't agree). I don't know what the punishment should be. Perhaps donating time (sweat equity) for the beautification of the graveyard. 18 years old, as Judge Judy would say "are not fully cooked" jay

Kristen- Interesting localism post. Interesting in a good way that is.

18 year old guys and alcohol aren't the best combination as I recall. As long as he's willing to accept the punishment given out to him.

Kristen....what are these kids thinking when they decide to do these destructive acts.....and vandalizing a cemetery is really ashame.....hope he is being honest about his feelings.....

kristen...it's said that their brain halves don't develop  until their mid 20's especially for boys which makes them follow the pack without reasoning...so unfortunate, but something kicked in with this kid to make a 1st step in the right direction which hopefully he'll stay on.  apologizing is realizing your own faults & weaknesses...if you can't do that what kind of person are you?

Kristin - Comment 5 was me!  I don't know what happened last night...almost every comment I made showed up like this!  Gremlins?  (Most likely, operator error. )  :D 

Kristen, we all make dumb mistakes, some people make very bad dumb mistakes. Let's hope that this man's apology was sincere and that people give him the benefit of the doubt. At the end of the day, no-body was hurt, and nothing was done that can't be repaired. The apology does show a certain amount of character, and maybe this experience will be a learning experience for the young man.

I'm a person that believes in second chances, like many that have already responded.

Years ago I had an epiphany. Even when people do bad things they are likely doing the best they can do. Sounds initially like a strange thought  I know. Yet there is a bigger picture here than a single event or a single day in the life a young person, of course. I hope that this young man can look deeply into his life, put things in the right order and determine not to let moments like this difine him.

Great post Kristen.