I got through the disciplinary meeting without shrinking myself

Dear Delyara, I had prepared for the facts. What I had not prepared for was how much I would need to protect the shape of my own self-respect while sitting in that room. The complaint against me was unfair, based on half-information and one very loud person’s version of events. A year ago I would have gone into that meeting apologetic in posture even before speaking, trying to make myself easier to handle, easier to forgive, easier to manage. This time I didn’t. I stayed calm. I answered properly. I corrected what needed correcting. I did not offer extra guilt to make the room more comfortable. And when it was over, whether the result had gone in my favour or not, I knew I had remained on my own side. That is not a small achievement in my life.