May 14, 2026 — At South Cobb High School, one student is using his own grief to help others in similar situations.
Gale Thomas, a senior, lost his mom to breast cancer right before Christmas.
With his dad battling his own health concerns, Thomas stepped into the role of family caretaker and has continued to thrive in the classroom.
"On a tough day, what keeps me together is just thinking about my future and working toward it," said Thomas.
The South Cobb senior is involved in student government, drama club, Beta Club, National Honor Society, and Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy.
"I personally believe in whatever I do, I believe that my future is bright, and I'm going to strive toward that," said Thomas.
While dealing with the loss of his mother, Thomas has met with other students who have lost a parent or are in similar situations.
Not only has he carried this burden down an incredibly successful path in his senior year, but he's been a rock and steady support for his fellow classmates in the midst of it all.
As Thomas prepares to graduate, he thinks about how proud his mother would be of him and feels an immense sense of pride for succeeding despite adversity during his senior year.
"I guess it just shows how determined I am because going through all this stuff, doing all these things. I've still been able to show up in all these different clubs and extracurriculars and organizations, and I feel like that just shows that I've truly left a mark here at South Cobb," said Thomas.
Thomas will attend Morehouse College next year, where he plans to major in biology and theater.
