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'I got expelled from school but turned my life around and now earn 6 figures'

When she was expelled at 15, Melissa Lewis thought she wouldnt amount to anything. However, she now runs her own successful property business and helps others become millionaires

[Melissa Lewis poses in a silver sparkly suit]

Melissa Lewis was a self-confessed 'nightmare' at school (Image: Melissa Lewis/Cover Images)

Meet Melissa Lewis who was a self-confessed 'nightmare' at school.

When she was expelled at 15, the Essex lass thought she wouldnt amount to anything. However, she now runs her own successful property business and helps others become millionaires.

But it wasn't always easy as Melissa started smoking at the age of 12, and began bunking off school soon after. Then by the age of 15, she was kicked out.

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Rebelling against her super-strict parents, she never thought her behaviour would come back to bite her. So when she was told not to return to school, she was shocked and terrified.

Melissa, now 33, said: "One day, I was told that I had to stay behind for lunchtime detention for talking in class. It happened to be my first day back in school, after being suspended every week for the previous two months or so.

[Melissa Lewis' school photo]

She got expelled from her school at the age of 15(Image: Melissa Lewis/Cover Images)

"I boldly told the teacher that I wasnt hanging around for a lunchtime detention and headed out. When I walked back in after lunch I was told I was being expelled.

"That was my last day at school; no leaving party, no signing of my uniform, no prom. I was terrified of what my parents would say. I thought they would kill me. I remember shaking as I got home."

Unimpressed, her parents told her she would have to get a job straight away, so she became an apprentice at Transport for London. She lasted two months in the role before being sacked for failing a safety test.

"Not knowing what to do next, I landed a job as an HR administrator, which I could do alongside college work," she said. "I enrolled in College and then university and studied HR management.

[Melissa Lewis poses for a photo]

Melissa now runs her own successful property business(Image: Melissa Lewis/Cover Images)

"I worked hard both at college and in my job and amazed my parents when I bought myself a Ford KA at just 17. I used to love plugging my phone into my stereo and driving my friends around listening to music.

"We would park up and have car parties. I probably received the most car parking fines in my first year of driving alone."

When Melissa hit 20, she set herself a goal to be a senior HR Officer by the time she hit 30 and achieved it by the time she was 26. During that time, she knuckled down, working hard and saving hard while all her friends were going out and spending their money on clothes and clubs.

She bought her first home at the age of 26, moving from London to Essex where it was more affordable. Then after 10 years in HR she set up her own property business, sourcing properties and development sites for investors.

[Melissa Lewis poses for a photo ]

Her company is worth six figures(Image: Melissa Lewis/Cover Images)

She explained: "I conduct House of Multiple Occupancy Management and most excitingly, I work with women over 35, who want to get started in property investment. I havent looked back.

"Its been rewarding but the toughest thing Ive ever done. Im a woman in a male-dominated industry. In the early days, I had landlords wanting to take me for dinner instead of paying me for property management.

"Instead of paying a sign-up fee and monthly 10% management fee, they'd ask how much would I knock off the sign-up fee, after a slap-up dinner. The landlord I mentioned above would constantly contact me to find out if I had 'changed my mind' and was willing to accept his dinner invitation. I didnt; a poxy dinner doesn't pay the bills.

"Another landlord asked if he could come to mine to negotiate our contract over drinks. That was a definite no.

[Melissa Lewis poses for a photo]

She also helps other people become millionaires too(Image: Melissa Lewis/Cover Images)

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In the first year, she bought in just over 172,000 from rental income alone. She started with nothing and now has a six-figure turnover.

Melissa added: "Ive learned many lessons along the way, but the main thing that had to change was my mindset.

"You cant achieve anything positive if youre unhappy or coming from a place of negativity or lack or frustration. I look back at that teenager and don't regret a moment.

"Yes, I could have been more strategic, but how boring would it have been if I had played by the rules? I never would have accomplished what I have in business, if I wasn't a little quirky."

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