BOSTON -- Every two weeks, NewsCenter 5 presents a high school senior who has taken the lessons of the classroom and applied them to life.

This week's A Plus student is Algonquin Regional High School's Arianne Del Rios.

NewsCenter 5's Shiba Russell reported that Del Rios is a cancer survivor and uses her art to communicate and comprehend tough tests.

"I just like to have a sketchbook on me at all times to just kind of put out my thinking process," said Del Rios.

At the age of 18 months, doctors removed a tumor from her brain. Del Rios underwent surgery, but at 4 years old the tumor returned. Doctors operated again and insisted she get eight weeks of radiation.

Years later, Arianne is still battling some side effects like slow growth. She is 4 feet 8 inches tall and battling a learning disability.

"I want to be able to understand things and memorize things, but I can't do it like anyone else can all the time. I just have to take more notes than usual and have side notes and pictures, and just write things down a lot more," Del Rios said.

"She does have a lot on her plate that she does have to take care of. Even though she has just as much work as I do, it's just twice as hard for her to accomplish," said Del Rios' best friend Ashley Faherty.

But somehow art sticks to her brain. Del Rios spends nearly half the school day in the art studio.

"She's eager to get going. She's always bright and smiling. She kind of reminds me of the song from the musical Annie, the sun will come up tomorrow because she views every day as a bonus," said art teacher Dick Morgado

Arianne's favorite scene to paint is Ferry Beach in Maine. She calls the childhood vacation spot a stress reliever, the waves help her wash away the unnecessary things in life. Her personal struggle to socialize and memorize is forgotten in seconds.

"I just love going there and being refreshed by everything," Del Rios said.

She's able to create something new and share her sense of home and healing with friends and family.

"Her artwork comes from inside," said Morgado.

"I just want to share back with them a piece of me," Del Rios said.

Del Rios has already been accepted into the fall art program at UMass Dartmouth. If you would like to view her artwork, log onto www.blueharborartist.com.

If you know a special student who truly makes a difference in his or her classroom, e-mail us your nomination. Please include your phone number.