By:  Ellie Wright
3/15/2007

Casey Thomas is someone who will “brighten your day no matter what,” says her friend, Cherie Farinola.

Thomas, 23, is a Spanish major and a religion and philosophy minor at Friends University.  But unlike other students, she lives with cerebral palsy. Despite the disease, Farinola sees Thomas as a driven, personable and passionate person. Farinola, a junior elementary education major, met Thomas through Cornerstone and other Campus Ministries events.

Doctors diagnosed Thomas with cerebral palsy when she was 6 months old. She finds that the disease continually causes her to change, but it does not keep her from living her dreams.

 “It doesn’t stop me from doing what I want to get done in life. I’m still learning and coping,” Thomas said.

Thomas’ interest in Spanish began when she was only 5 through a childhood friend. His parents were from Mexico and their Spanish conversations intrigued her. She began learning Spanish in sixth grade and has enjoyed the language ever since.

After graduation Thomas would like to work for Compassion International, a Christian child sponsor program, as a letter translator. However, she is open to other careers that help people with Spanish, except for translating legal documents. Thomas said she is willing to follow God’s plans, whatever they may be.

In addition to her love for Spanish, Thomas also likes to read, spend time on the computer, listen to music, learn about other cultures, hang out with friends and watch movies. She views herself as an average college student.

She enjoys when her friends feel comfortable to confide in her. She hopes that all people will see her as a listener and a loyal, unselfish friend.

Friends has made a positive impression on Thomas. When she was looking for a college, Friends alumni and a current student encouraged her to explore Friends as an option. She found it to be a welcoming place.

“I feel at home here at Friends,” she said. “There is a sense of community that I don’t get anywhere else. All of it feels right. There is a sense of peace and belonging. I’m where I’m supposed to be.”

While Thomas dreams for the entire world to be wheelchair accessible, she believes Friends provides enough mobility, although there is always room for improvement.
Thomas loves the students and faculty at Friends and cherishes that they see her instead of her disability.

“The people here look at me, not at my chair.”