While I understand why this girl did what she did, I'd like add a few points.
It's true what they say about the burden of holding a grudge. Learning to cope is a very important skill.
I'm not saying she should excuse his actions but she should understand that not all people are nice or good people. It's important to know that so you aren't knocked off your path of excellence when you come in contact with them. They are merely a learning tool at this point.
These things have a way of working themselves out. Aholes don't need her help, they'll eff up their own lives simply by being an ahole. She is much better off simply knowing that these types of people exist in the world, learning to cope with it, and -even better- becoming either a positive role model and/or using it all to her advantage so she can better herself in such a way that she has a happy life.
This sort of action reveals that her self confidence is still fragile. How devastated would she have been if he hadn't responded with an apology? If he had identified it as a weakness and attacked it upon feeling alienated by her behavior? She probably could've just talked to him about it and received much more gratifying results. Why is it so important to feel better by making him feel guilty about something he has either already changed or is unlikely to change from this one incident?
I was totally bullied growing up. Like downright mean spirited bullied. I, too, am very happy that social media wasn't as prevalent growing up.
I'm certainly not going to thank anyone that bullied me but I don't think seeking petty revenge is healthy, either.
Mean spirited little kids will go down one of a few paths in which either they'll either become better people and realize their mistakes as they grow or their lives will suck and you didn't need to be a part of that mess anyways. Maybe make an effort to understand it so that you may appropriately identify it, stop it, and deal with it if it occurs. Then go pat yourself on the back and do something fun.
