Graduating Kennebunk High School student Sydney Waitt is looking forward to a future of helping others. DINA MENDROS/Journal Tribune
KENNEBUNK — Kennebunk High School senior Sydney Waitt is planning a future helping others. The 18-year-old, who will graduate Sunday, is planning to attend Manhattan College in the fall where she will major in international relations and diplomacy. After graduating college, she will enter the Peace Corps “and after that who knows,” she said.
It is only fitting that this happy, active student give back, Waitt said, after all the support she has received.
Though healthy now, it was at the end of her freshman year that Waitt was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. This rare form of bone cancer usually affects young people between 10 and 20 years old. Only about 200 children and young adults in the United States are affected by Ewing’s Sarcoma each year, according to webmd.com.
Kennebunk High School graduation
Valedictorian: Hallie Schwartzman
Salutatorian:Jordyn Sullivan
Faculty speaker: Melissa Luetje
No. of graduates: 176
Graduation will take place at Kennebunk High School at 1 p.m.
“I missed the majority of my sophomore year,” because of chemotherapy treatments, which she had to have several times a week, Waitt said.
But Waitt didn’t let her illness stop her from keeping up her education. She said she often skyped into classes, had her friends and teachers bring her homework, and, on days she felt well enough she attended school. “I only missed a day of school outside of chemo,” Waitt said.
In addition, despite her physical limitations — when a tumor on her arm was removed, about one-third of her radial bone was also removed — Waitt still enjoys and plays sports as much as before, although a little differently.
She played softball before her cancer and played again after. Although “I switched from a right-handed batter to left-handed,” she said. She also played soccer and unified basketball.
Waitt, who has been cancer free for 2 1/2 years, doesn’t dwell on her illness, and says the worse part of her cancer wasn’t what she endured.
“The worse part was seeing my parents go through it,” she said.
She also looks at her illness as a lesson.
“It made me grateful for what I have,” Waitt said. “It showed me how loving my community was.”
While she was sick, Waitt said, her community supported her by making Sydney Strong Fund T-shirts, holding fundraisers and more. “They did a lot for my family and me.”
Waitt’s illness also helped her decided what she did and didn’t want to do for her future.
“Originally, I was leaning to the medical field,” Waitt said. “Then I realized I hated hospitals.”
Now, although not sure of an exact field, she said she was to work in social services or diplomacy.
“I definitely want to do something in development countries,” Waitt said. I figured this would be the next best way to help people.”
But before that future, she said she is looking forward to graduation, a summer working in food services in Kennebunkport and spending time with friends and family and then off to college. A future, she said, she will appreciate much more after all she has gone through.
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