Nikolas Gobeil
Collège Jean de la Mennais

If asked to resume in a nutshell Nikolas Gobeil’s type of commitment, the most befitting way would most definitely be MUTUAL AID. Just about everything the Secondary 5 student at Collège Jean de la Mennais gets involved in is aimed at lending a helping hand to others. Whether it’s with the Solidarité-Tiers-Monde committee, the tutoring program, the school’s group of natural helpers or the various volunteer projects organized by the Collège, Nikolas sees everything he does as an opportunity to further develop his innate sense of solidarity.

“Nikolas is recognized by both his peers and his teachers as a natural leader who is committed to his community. He has a keen sense of responsibility, as well as creativity, perseverance and remarkable compassion for others. What’s more, he knows how to rally others to his cause and support the commitment of his fellow students,” asserts the school’s community involvement coordinator Yvon Roy.

A brilliant student and a member of the school soccer team for the past seven years, he also explored his artistic talents when he helped paint the walls of the school as part of a major improvement project. However Nikolas comes across as a teenager who is discreet, reserved, calm and above all highly attentive to the needs of others. In truth, he doesn’t need to raise his voice to be heard. His actions speak abundantly of his desire to express himself.

“I have always been very close to my friends and family. In a way I’m like a mediator, and I’m also a good listener. That’s probably why I enjoy the role I play with the group of natural helpers so much,” he explains.

As a member of the group, which is made up of students chosen by their peers, Nikolas offers his help to fellow classmates experiencing personal problems who don’t feel like confiding in an adult. After following preliminary training with social workers in issues related to teenagers such as suicide, addiction and their everyday problems, Nikolas is able to offer his support and a sympathetic ear.

This desire to be of assistance is also transposed into the academic world. As part of the tutoring program for the past two years, he enables younger students to make progress thanks to his skills in mathematics. “I can remember a lot of students who told me that if I hadn’t helped them, they wouldn’t have passed their exams. It’s very rewarding.”

Nikolas’ natural empathy can also be felt outside school walls. Through the community involvement projects organized by the Collège, Nikolas regularly volunteers to go out and work with people in his community. Among other things, he points out his participation on weekends in special activities for young people with physical or mental disabilities. And he talks of his visits to a Montréal Aids hospice where he has made some amazing encounters. He also describes his involvement with youngsters from single-parent families and the role he plays as a sort of big brother. And then there’s his involvement in sports activities organized for people at a rehabilitation centre in Montréal. Once again, all these activities offer him the chance to become more open to others and to understand the types of problems some people face.

“For me, it is a way of establishing special ties with other young people and even adults. When I see the positive effects, it encourages me to go back and do more and it’s something I really enjoy.”

As vice-president of his school’s Solidarité-Tiers-Monde committee for the past two years, Nikolas has also helped bring to life development projects in Uganda and Rwanda. In setting up fund-raising activities with the help of fellow students, last year he did his part in helping build toilet blocs and purchase recreational equipment for a school. As well as actively participating in the fund-raisers, his leadership skills were put to good use above all when the time came to rally others to his cause.

“Involvement is just part of who I am. I wouldn’t be able to live without the smiles and words of thanks and all the other strong emotions that all this brings. And that’s probably why I’d like to pursue a career in medicine. To help people and see them get better,” Nikolas asserts.

Nikolas Gobeil
Collège Jean de la Mennais