Well, I'll admit I have issues to this day but when I was younger, looking back I can we I was borderline sociopath. My mother did more emotional damage with her abuse until the state gave custody to my grandparents. When I first went to school some teachers noticed in California and sent me to a psychologist. He told Grandma I was asocial. Not antisocial, just asocial. One teacher hit me for not paying attention and then I just refused to do anything. So I got a paddling by the principal which made me more withdrawn, they had a meeting with some important people who used words I didn't understand but one thing I remembered was one man suggested they put me in "a more fluid situation.". The new teacher was super nice but made no demands. She basically was just kind. I discovered that the art tables had pegboard sides with nothing inside. I crawled inside and just stayed there for most the class and she said nothing other than coming by and asking how I was doing. I was amazed and spent most of every day hiding out. Then another kid asked me if could hide out also and I showed him the next table was empty too and assured him it was ok, he wouldn't get in trouble. After that we would go to recess together and hang out on the edge of the field talking, or just watching the clouds. This teacher would pick me up on Saturday and have me hang out with her toddler (free babysitting?) while she vanished to her apartment. It was boring but I felt I owed her. To my mind just her picking up made me feel important and cared for. I started participating in class again and actually enjoyed it. in spite of all the hell growing up there were bright spots like this that preserved my humanity I think. It was rare but enough. I shudder to think where I would be today if not for those few people who showed me kindness. Most likely prison I think. I try to pass that kindness on when I can. Give praise to new kids coming on the job, help them out when needed or just hand out bottles of water.