Cooper Thomas wants to be remembered as a loving father to his future children and a dedicated friend. His passion for helping others goes beyond his family, and he seeks to uplift everyone in his circle. He feels fulfilled by the support and kindness he provides to those in need.

“I want a legacy where I was a great father to my [future] children and just being an all-out good person in the end. So I don’t care for a plaque or anything. I just want to be just a good person,” Cooper said.

Cooper Thomas is a sophomore at Hickman High School. After spending his freshman year in Colorado, Cooper returned to Columbia and expressed that the experience of moving away taught him a valuable lesson.

 “Throughout my life, I’ve had friends around me, and I’ve taken that for granted. In ninth grade, I moved away from them. It was a year of not having a single friend or anyone to talk to, living in another state and school, that made me figure it all out and shape me into who I am today, and I don’t take anything for granted anymore. I think it was a good life lesson for me to understand how my purpose bettered myself. Now I’ve moved back, I’m thankful for that and all the friends and family around me,” Cooper said.

Cooper has known his group of friends since elementary school. They have been a significant part of his life since then and share numerous interests, including video games and basketball.

Although Cooper doesn’t play on the school team and no longer participates in competitive games, he still enjoys playing basketball in his free time. Growing up, his favorite player was John Wall, who played for the Kentucky Wildcats in college before being drafted by the Washington Wizards. John Wall once made a heartfelt gesture by helping a girl with cancer as part of a wish program and played in a game for her after she passed away.

“He [John Walls] assisted a girl who had cancer as part of a wish program, and he was there for her. He played in a game for her after she passed away, which was just a kind gesture to witness from him,” Cooper said.

Cooper’s favorite memory that deepened his love for basketball occurred when he was nine years old and still played competitively; he scored 47 points in a game. 

“That’s when I fell in love with the game. After that, I just kept playing. I submitted to making a new one every game, and almost every memory I have related to basketball is a good one,” Cooper said.

Cooper particularly enjoys the flow of the game and the style of play. He loves watching basketball and playing it with friends. Sophomore Wilson Creech, a long-time friend of Cooper’s, shares many basketball memories with him. 

 “We were at a park playing basketball, just me and him. He’s pretty good at basketball, but I managed to beat him in a game of Olympia, and that felt really good,” Wilson said.

Although Cooper loves basketball, the sport significantly raises his stress levels, leading him to stop playing competitively. He feels it’s unfair to compete under such pressure. His evolving view of competition and personal well-being influences his approach to basketball and life. His fear of failure drives his stress in sports.

“Failing is probably my biggest fear. That’s why sports get me such a high stress level; I don’t want to fail. I want to support my family as much as I can in the future, and I don’t want to fail with that,” Cooper said.

Cooper has two older sisters and supportive parents who have instilled important values in him since he was young. They taught him not to judge a book by its cover. 

His most cherished memories with his sister are from when he used to go on adventures with her and her friends.

“We would venture deep into the woods and just goof around, feeling completely carefree. They were all five years older than me, so I learned a lot from them. Looking back, I realize this is a memory I will hold onto forever,” Cooper said.

Cooper is a friendly and loyal person who normally stays calm, but gets angry occasionally. He understands others’ perspectives well and is always willing to help. His friends describe him as dependable, funny, quirky, and intelligent.  

“He’s one of the few friends I can call and talk to without him making fun of me, because I feel like he sometimes goes through the same stuff that I am dealing with. I can talk to him about almost anything; we’re pretty close, so there’s nothing I hide from him,”  Sophomore Kade Myers, a friend of Cooper’s since elementary school, said.

Cooper is academically talented, consistently excelling in his schoolwork. His government teacher, Aimee Webber, noted that during a recent debate on the Federalists, he thoughtfully considered both the Federalist and Anti-Federalist viewpoints, showcasing his admirable ability to analyze different perspectives.

“I would give him the advice of continuing to put 100% effort into everything that he does and not give up on the things that he’s passionate about,” Ms. Webber said.

In the future, Cooper plans to study digital media at the University of Missouri while staying close to his lifelong friends. Whether he works for a company like Microsoft or becomes a basketball coach, he believes in pursuing his passions with dedication.

Even though he has his future planned out, Cooper Thomas doesn’t believe in mottos. “I don’t care for quotes or phrases. Every day is not going to be based on a quote or a phrase. It’s just gonna go, every day goes,” Cooper said.