EDITOR’S NOTE:
This is the first of 10 articles about the top 10 academic seniors at Carthage High School.

Tria Thomas, daughter of Dina and Andy Thomas of Carthage is not your typical daughter of a renowned artist.

While her father wanted her to be interested in art, he never pushed her into his vocation, which is why Tria, the No. 10 ranked academic senior at Carthage High School, is majoring in chemistry and going on to pre-med after graduation.

I’m going to attend the University of Missouri at Columbia,” said Tria. “My father never pushed me into art. He  wanted me to be interested about it, but he always said that I should do what I wanted to do.”

Looking back on her high school years, Tria will remember her friends the most.

“I will always remember hanging out with my friends and my teachers who have helped me along the way,” Tria said. “During my senior year, I will remember a lot of things, but especially about all the things that my friends and I did together, our last year together.”

It’s a known fact that the CHS Class of 2008 will be the last class to graduate from the current Carthage High School building as next year’s class will graduate from the new school.

“I really think it’s kind of cool,” said Tria. “I really like our high school. I’m glad we are the last class to graduate from here.”

As with any graduating senior, Tria has had a couple of people who have had a profound influence on her life.

“My mother and my father mean so much to me,” said Tria. “They have always told me to do what I wanted to do and that I could do anything. They have always been there for me. And here at school, Coach Grundy has meant a lot to me.”

Graduation is a time of reflection and also a time for vision. Looking down the road 20 years, Tria sees herself as a pediatric surgeon.

“I’m gong to med school, so I hopefully see myself as a pediatric surgeon, hopefully with a family, and maybe living back here in Carthage,” said Tria.

As she begins her final days at Carthage High School and will see some of her classmates for the last time, Tria hopes to be remembered as a well-balanced person.

“I hope people remember me as having enough time for my family, friends, school and activities,” said Tria. “But most importantly, I hope they remember me as being a happy person.”