From her lips she drew "Inspire them, and they will inspire you" by Dakota

From her lips she drew "Inspire them, and they will inspire you" by Dakota - September 2013 Scholarship Essay

Unlike most children, I didn't play during recess, eat with all my friends, stay out of trouble, or even get good grades. During my third day of First Grade I was suspended for "sexual harassment" because I tickled my friend. Since that day, teachers and parents told their children and students to stay away from me because I was a bad influence. My young self didn't understand what was going on, just that I had this increased sense of loneliness.
I wasn't getting enough attention and found the only way I was noticed was by acting out and getting into trouble. This, of course, led to more of the "stay away from the Demon Child" (yes, this was my actual nickname from peers, and a few teachers, too). From grad one to grade seven I was constantly bombarded with suspensions, hate, seclusion, exclusion, and the knowledge that I probably was going to flunk out of High School and find myself in jail.
I wasn't even aware of how messed up I had become until about month three of my eighth grade year. Her name was Melissa Revel and she was my English teacher. She knew I loved to read and she was always giving me new books to read; we had a bond through books. I was given an English assignment to write a short story. I was told by one of my peers that It was boring and I was sure to get a failing grade. But then I had to read it aloud to the class, I was the last one to go. I stopped reading halfway to realize no one was listening. I looked straight to Mrs. Revel and conveyed in my look to her that I was near tears. It was embarrassing standing there when no one was caring. She only nodded to me to keep going. I had respect for her, so I did. When I was finished I sat down and to my surprise no one even clapped. Not one. My eyes welled up and before I could cry, Mrs. Revel stood up and spoke.
Melissa Revel has this way that when she speaks, you listen. And what she had said that moment was something I'll never forget. She said "not once have I ever had a student so profound in the way she projects her voice, heart, and soul into a story like that. You are truly excellent. Not only that, but you wow-ed me with your skill and creativity. I've never given an A before today, and my dear, you have gotten 100%." The whole class looked at me. I was beaming with joy because finally someone thought I hadn't failed. (She then proceeded to scold the class, might I add.)
On graduation night, Mrs. Revel pulled me aside to talk. She told me I was an Inspiration and that from the moment I stepped into her classroom that she knew I was going to be someone someday, despite all the warnings she had heard about me. She told me to go onto High School and graduate and move onto college. She said to me one final phrase as I left from the room, never to see her again. From her lips she drew "Inspire them. And they will inspire you."
All my life I had grown up thinking I couldn't and for once, I thought maybe I could. I entered her classroom a failure, and left her classroom with my first A. Not once have I failed since then and I promised her and I promised myself that I would go on and Inspire others to not give up either, but first I have to do what once was thought impossible (but now has never been more possible because of her) and graduate High School and go onto College.