Aneesa Cedillo is a childhood cancer survivor and future kindergarten teacher. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Editor’s Note: This is one in a series of stories highlighting graduating high school seniors in Smith County.

With graduation just days away, Early College High School senior Aneesa Cedillo is feeling the nerves.

“My emotions are just all over the place,” she said. “I’m super nervous, super excited … the real world is just around the corner.”

With her high school career almost in the rearview mirror, Cedillo is grateful for the path she chose to expedite her education.

Early College High School allows students to obtain their diploma and an associate degree simultaneously through a partnership with Tyler Junior College.

“It’s been stressful … because I had been doing college and high school at the same time,” she said. “It was kind of hard to adjust because in middle school I was in orchestra and would do plays but … they don’t really do that here.”

With no practices to show up for, Cedillo had little distraction and focused largely on her studies in a fast-paced environment at Early College High School.

“We still have clubs and stuff, and I’ve been involved in organizations like GIVE (Girls Invested in Volunteer Efforts),” she said.

She would often relieve stress from schoolwork by coloring or crocheting at home and would hang out with friends as much as possible.

“It was a little bit stressful at times, but I wouldn’t change my choice to come here,” Cedillo said. “It’s a lot of homework and studying involved but … just know that this is a really great opportunity in getting your associates before your high school diploma. No one can take that away from you.”

Cedillo received her associate’s degree in general studies and is going to UT Tyler in the fall to major in education to become a kindergarten teacher. More specifically, a bilingual kindergarten teacher.

“I just think that’s such an important age group to teach,” she said. “You’re learning your alphabet, your numbers and stuff and it’s those things that get you through life.”

Before setting her sights on teaching, she wanted to be a pediatric oncologist.

“At the moment, I just didn’t want to see children at this hospital because it’s still kind of hard for me,” Cedillo said.

At 6 years old, Cedillo was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer called Ewing sarcoma. She experienced pain in her right femur but it was months before anyone realized how serious it was.

“We all thought it was just growing pains but then it was kind of weird because it was just in one leg,” Cedillo said. “It was getting to the point where the pain was unbearable. I would wake up in my sleep and just cry and scream because it hurt so bad … it felt as if my leg was literally on fire.”

According to John Hopkins Medicine, Ewing sarcoma occurs primarily in the bone or soft tissue, often found in the hip bones, ribs or long bones. It is the second-most type of bone cancer affecting children — accounting for about 1 percent of childhood cancers.

When the family was in a restaurant, Cedillo collapsed from walking and was rushed to the emergency room. Tests revealed she had cancer; however, after ruling out leukemia and other types of cancers, it was almost a week before she got the news.

“Ewing sarcoma is so rare … they had to bring in a specialist,” she explained.

Once chemotherapy and other treatments began, Cedillo missed a lot of first grade and ended up repeating the year.

“I’m … very grateful that my principal at the time suggested that for me to redo it so I could have some memories and just relive through first grade,” she said.

Cedillo received a lot of letters of support and encouragement from her first grade class at Caldwell Arts Academy while going through treatment for 11 months.

“They saw me while I was going through treatment and they always had a smile on their face and they would always make me … feel normal,” she said. “They were like my support group. I’ve grown with a village around me.”

Cedillo has now been cancer-free for 12 years but she continues to deal with the long-term effects of her treatment, including heart problems and neuropathy in her hands and feet.

“I get tingling sensations sometimes,” she said. “There have been times when I can’t even hold a pencil in my hand. My legs will still hurt here and there … so I have to use the elevator whenever I can.”

Cedillo also deals with depression and anxiety.

“I am grateful for having gone through it because I am able to share my story and help other people with it,” she said. “It also taught me to be more patient with people because I know how to control my emotions when I get overwhelmed.”

On top of her associate’s degree, Cedillo received Tyler ISD’s Faulconer Scholarship and a scholarship from the Gold Network of East Texas.

“I would like to thank the teachers at ECHS because of them, I decided that I wanted to be a teacher,” Cedillo said.

While she found comfort with her school, family and friends, Cedillo also found a village with the Gold Network of East Texas and other childhood cancer survivors.

“I will always root for them,” Cedillo said. “I always try my best to speak up for them … but I just want them to know that I’m proud of them and they are my hero. They’re my warriors even though I might not know them personally. I am here for you.”

Early College High School’s graduation is set for 8 p.m. Thursday in the Tyler High varsity gym.