Throughout her almost two decades at Southeast, Cookson has touched a lot of hearts.
“I’ve known Miss Cookson since I was in middle school … I would say hi to her, and … I would always look up to her. I was excited to come to high school to sing for her,” Madrigals member Yadira Cruz-Diaz (12) said.
The impact Cookson has on her students is lasting past high school, making lasting connections with her kids.
“She’s an amazing teacher, and she has passed on a lot of wisdom that I think has proved to be some of the most beneficial wisdom I could have ever gotten … And she’s a very positive person,” Madrigals member Jace Arellano (12) said.
In the classroom, Cookson works hard to promote the family feeling, to make her students feel a part of something bigger.
“She makes us feel like a family. And that’s definitely the most important thing about it is she makes sure no one’s is no one is left out,” Madrigal member Lucas Christner (11) said.
Last year, in the busy weeks leading up to Goldust 2023, Cookson was diagnosed with breast cancer. She chose not to tell her students, even though immediately after receiving the call, she was at the school aiding the other Fine Arts directors in the many performing arts events taking place that week. Cookson has always been dedicated to her work; however, her perseverance showed through the diagnosis and battle as she continued to teach with unwavering energy and positivity.
“My prognosis is really pretty good. I’m a lucky person and the type of cancer that I have is one of the most common. So, treatments are pretty well established,” Cookson said. “By the time all of my treatment is completed, it will have a less than 15% chance of return.”
When the time came for her to share the diagnosis with those around her, and Cookson received nothing but support.
“The administration has been very supportive of … my needs and taking care of myself and being able to put my health first so that I can maintain teaching in the classroom,” Cookson said.
Even with the trials she was facing, staying in the classroom was never a struggle.
“My teaching has been something that’s helped me keep going because I find on the weekends, it’s easy to sit and not do anything because you’re tired and the fatigue really hits me. But when I’m at school, it’s like okay, I’ve got to do this. So that’s kind of really kept me going,” Cookson said.
After being at Southeast for nearly 20 years, Cookson has had quite an impact on a lot of students. Naturally, many were concerned when she shared her news with them.
“Oh, yeah, I was quite worried for her because … other issues that she was battling. But I was mostly worried about her mental state, and being able to continue teaching the classes while she does,” Christner said.
Some students were not worried at all, as they know their teacher, and know she can tackle anything.
“I wasn’t panicking because Miss Cookson is a very resilient individual. And I know Miss Cookson … she’s always been strong, and she’s always good at battling problems,” Arellano said.
As treatment started, Cookson did her best to remain positive for her students and they did the same for her, even if that was difficult at times.
“For the most part, I just really do try to maintain in my mind that there are people… who have had several years of treatments, and I think ‘okay, if they can do that, I can do my six little rounds and get through it,'” Cookson said. “It’s been okay. It’s not without its challenges, but I’m able to get through it. I’ve seen a lot of people who have it worse than I do. So, I figure I can do this.”
Her positive outlook wasn’t lost on her students, because even through helping Cookson with the difficulty cancer brings, everyone remained supportive.
“She usually has to take it easy, most times, which I completely understand because if I was in the same situation, I would never be showing up. But she shows up… despite all of these hardships that she’s been given, she’s still up the first person I see when I walk into the concert or rehearsal or whatever the case might be,” Arellano said.
By doing what she is doing, she is laying a wonderful example of the things a person can accomplish for her students.
“I really respect her ability to keep pushing even though she’s either really tired or she really didn’t want to get out of bed that morning. But she still came here to see us and to teach us,” Christner said.
Cookson’s fight is not invisible to her students, and they recognize the work she puts in to continue her daily life regardless of the obstacles.
“She’s, like, amazing. She hasn’t changed at all, she makes jokes about it, but she is the same, she’s positive. She doesn’t she doesn’t let it get her down or anything and I just really admire that about her,” Cruz-Diaz said.
After completing her full six rounds of chemo, Cookson will continue a hormone therapy pill as well as regular checkups, and eventually, surgery to complete the treatment. She said this did not affect her retirement plans and she plans to continue to teach for at least a little longer.
“One thing I will say is that I’ve had a great supportive family, Cookson said. “So I’ve just appreciated all that support from students from staff and administration.”
