HOUSTON — The Facebook post sums it up:
"From brain cancer to Valedictorian 2019 of Incarnate Word Academy in six years! Feeling beyond blessed to celebrate Michela's hard work and accomplishments."
With a 4.61 GPA, Durrette learned she is the 2019 valedictorian for Incarnate Word Academy.
"I'm so incredibly excited," said Durrette who just six years ago, was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer.
The diagnosis, she says, came after a single seizure when she was in the 6th grade. Doctors at Texas Children's Hospital used MRI tests to spot a malignant tumor that spanned only 3 centimeters in her left frontal lobe.
"So within days of finding out that I had a tumor, I had brain surgery," said Durrette.
The rare form of cancer comes with a high return rate. So the 18-year old says doctors removed brain tissue that surrounded the tumor. And at 13-years old, she endured weeks of radiation.
"When I was diagnosed with cancer, all my doctors said that I probably wouldn’t make good grades any more. I shouldn’t expect to make good grades anymore. And they just wanted to prepare me for the fact that that might happen. But rather than using that as an excuse to give up I used it as motivation to work harder."
RELATED: Kellin McGowan is the first black valedictorian in St. Thomas High School's 119-year history
Durrette also received the Servant of the Word award, the Distinguished Leader award and awards for outstanding academic achievement in AP Calculus and AP Statistics.
"Knowing what she’s been through, you know, she could not have done that without the support of a lot of people," said Sister Lauren Beck who is the President of Incarnate Word Academy. "And to me, that’s God’s plan."
Incarnate Word Academy in downtown Houston is an all-girls Catholic school. The student body includes Michela Durrette in their daily prayers.
"I think that prayers are what’s gotten me to the point where I am," said Durrette, "without a tumor recurrence after six years."
Michela Durrette plans to attend the University of Houston Honors College in the fall. She wants to study mechanical engineering. She received a full four-year scholarship from the Terry Foundation. She has dreams of working at NASA.
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