Mr. Thompson is a financial math teacher here at Allen who legally adopted a former student of his who graduated in 2016.

How did this adoption come to be?

Starting last year, my now-daughter was a senior, and throughout the school year she would stay after and ask for advice, and I could tell that she didn’t have the most stable home environment. So I tried to help her out as much as I could through giving her advice, and I was even able to help her financially. The two of us started to form a really strong student-teacher bond that became more like a father-daughter bond.

What made you decide to adopt this former student?

I was trying to help her get enrolled in school, and I was going to start offering to pay for her college. Just looking at it from a financial side and a legal standpoint, it would be better if, in addition to that emotional bond, we had that legal bond — legally being my daughter.

Was the adoption process difficult?

In Texas, adult adoption is very simple. Ten days after I contacted a family attorney, we stood in front of a judge, and it was official. All they needed was the consent of myself and my now-daughter. It was very short, sweet and simple.

How is your relationship with her currently?

It’s better than it ever has been. Once the adoption was final, she moved into our house. I can see that she’s much happier recently. It’s neat having our dinners together, and my family is also very excited, because I have a niece and nephew who now have a cousin that they’ve never had before. It’s fun; it’s a learning experience for me, but I think she’s doing great.

How has this adoption impacted your life?

I’m not married, and I don’t have children of my own, and it’s impacted me greatly because I am learning very fast about being a father. Granted, I haven’t had to change diapers or do anything like that because she is nineteen, but she is a teenager, so she has come to me with concerns about friends and things at work, and then we sit and watch TV together too. It’s been a great learning experience for me because I never thought I would be a father, never thought I’d want to be a father, but this has changed my whole view 100 percent. I absolutely love it.

How do you think this adoption has impacted her life?

It hasn’t been very long, it’s only been since Dec. 29. We’ve had a nice father-daughter relationship going back since graduation. She’s not having to worry about things that she was worrying about in her previous situation. She has a place to come home to every night that has a positive atmosphere. She smiles a lot more now, and I just see her as happier than before.