One day when I was about eight or nine years old, my dad was preaching (he’s a pastor), and one of the stories in his sermon got my attention. The story began with a rebellious seventh grader who was basically the worst you could ever imagine. His mind was set on doing what he wanted, how he wanted, and when he wanted.

One time this seventh grader tried to burn a girl because he thought she was fat and ugly. And that wasn’t all, or the worst; he and his friends were determined to make every science teacher leave the school. First, they attempted simple things (simple things for them) like tossing rats at them, talking when they weren’t suppose to, and being disrespectful—each time with the intent to make the teacher leave. After months of doing what they wanted, they succeeded.

A new science teacher came to the school. She was strict, and her big belly revealed she was expecting a baby; they knew she wasn’t going to be an easy target. They tried doing the simple stuff that worked on the others, but ended up at the principal’s office. After becoming tired of not getting what they wanted, they started to make a plan so she would leave them for good.

Well, after weeks, the plan was finally ready. They went to class and everyone did their normal routines as if nothing different was going to happen. The class bell rang, and they waited outside the door for her to come out. Everyone was ready to proceed with the plan.

The teacher came out and headed for the stairs, together with the big mass of students who hurried out for their next class period. They all followed her, and the rebellious seventh grader stretched out his arm and pushed her down the stairs. He didn’t care about her life or her baby’s life; he only cared about what he wanted. Thanks to the Lord, a great mass of students were going down the stairs, too. She fell on their backs, which stopped her from losing her baby, but she became unconscious.

I sat wondering what kind of person could do something like that when the words “that seventh grader, that evil kid was me,” came out of my dad’s mouth. I was in shock. Then he continued, saying, “I met Jesus a year after that, through the teacher that I tried to kill.” He paused and then continued, “I asked God to change me and to make of me something better than the kid who did what he wanted, how he wanted, and when he wanted. Who would imagine that God would turn me into a pastor and someone lovely? Jesus can do just the same for you … He can change the worst of you and change it to good.”

Rossenery Vargas is a 15-year-old sophomore at Andrews Academy. She is a member at Pioneer Memorial Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She will receive a $100 scholarship because her article was selected for publication.