By Ariana Rathan
Walking into English teacher Terick Thomas’ classroom may seem like a regular Fountain Valley classroom. The organized lights, the mini table groups, the projector and the teacher’s desk, were nothing out of the normal.
Well nothing, except for the teacher, Mr. Terick Thomas.
This flannel-obsessed surfer, Thomas, isn’t just any average teacher at Fountain Valley High School (FVHS). He is an English teacher who is a “life-changer.”
“Mr. Thomas is the first teacher at Fountain Valley who I’ve felt cares about me,” junior Ivan Huynh said.
Despite it being his second year teaching, following his first year of teaching online, Thomas cares for his students and their wellbeing.
The cozy and welcoming vibes of the classrooms provide comfort to any student who enters his classroom.
As class begins, Thomas teaches and lectures his students, and is like no other. As the words leave his mouth, his students take in the information with excitement and wonder.
The students look nowhere in the classroom besides each other and the teacher.
One of the reasons that the students are so invested in his lectures is how approachable and easy Thomas makes it for them to participate. With the nonjudgemental and non-threatening environment, almost every single student participates with no hesitation.
No matter how talented a student may be at the subject or what level they may be, Thomas treats his students equally.
Students are also as interested in his lectures because of how interested he is in the subject as well. Any non-student can make the assumption that Thomas has a history and a passion for English.
Thomas’s goal for his students is to inspire and care for them. Students say they look forward to the periods they have him in.
When asked about his goals for himself, Thomas stumbled and quickly asked, ”What are my goals for my students?”
Not only are the students’ well-being constantly on his mind, but his mind is also on how the students are doing, how the students are learning and what the students are saying. Students, students and more students remain on Thomas’ mind and motivate him to be a better teacher every day.
Starting off class on Mondays, by allowing students to catch up with each other and share with the class what they had done during the weekend is one of the many things Thomas does to show the students he cares.
“There isn’t a day I don’t walk into his class and I don’t smile. You can really see that Mr. Thomas cares for his students and I feel cared for, it really is just contagious,” junior Sophie Fellowes said.
Thomas as a teacher at FVHS is an example of how much a teacher can affect students. Thomas will forever be remembered by students through the years as the teacher who cared, which is worth more than words can express.
