Confrontation

If you were a transfer student, how would you feel when you found out you had to take Freshman English? How would you feel if you were asked to do all the group work with those who were 3 or 4 years younger than you? I bet you must feel as lousy and frustrated as this student of mine! His attendance has been poor. Even worse, he has some attitude problem. Well, since he's at least 23 years old, I don't feel comfortable pointing out his problems. My principle is very simple--my students have to finish all the requirements I give!
After the mid-term exam, he stopped by my office to ask me if he had a chance to pass this course. I told him the chance was slim if he continued to be absent from class. Then he asked what he could do to pass this course. I said with a business-like expression on my face (expressionless)--"Attend class and finish all the assignments on time."
Then right in the afternoon, I got an email from him, a very nasty one. In his email, he said that he was a senior and that he couldn't afford to fail this course. Then he told me very HONESTLY how he felt about my class--so boring that he needed to see a psychiatrist. He ended his email with the following sarcastic words, "I REALLY like you. You teach REALLY good. I really hope you're the last English teacher in my life." 
Having been a teacher for more than 25 years, I've been confronted by quite a few students with different personalities or problems. But none of them was as old as this one. I don't mind being confronted by some hot-tempered teens because I know they will grow more mellow and mature as time goes by. However, this one is ALREADY 23 years old, but the way he interacted with me was kind of surprisingly immature. Though he was being childish, I have to give him some credit--at least he had guts because he didn't criticize me behind my back. I admire him for his courage but feel sorry about his attitude. He may not realize it's his attitude that has made him be a "nomad"--transferring from a seemingly better school to a worse one! I believe he is eager to find a place where he can fit in. But he may not know maybe he can never find such a place if he faces himself and other people with the same negative attitude? Who can help him face the music? Me? The chairman of his department? His parents? I have no answer!