About Me

A Cochrane high student is making a constant effort to aid those in need

Danika Niven

No matter someone's background, nor their story, he is willing to help provide people with a second chance at life. Who is this incredible individual? It’s Jacob Thurmeier a grade ten ROAMS (Rivers, Mountains, and Oceans School) student at Cochrane High whose main objective is to ameliorate the lives of people and to help them develop a life more worth living.

With the help of Thurmeier’s family he developed his passion for helping people through volunteering. He is very close with his family. One of their main family activities is volunteering all together, they’re all fond of helping others. Thurmeier says. “My mom’s a big helper when it comes to volunteering.” Thurmeiers says his main influence when it comes to helping out, fundraising, and doing volunteering events is his mother, Jodi Thurmeier. She got him involved in volunteering from the early age of six years old. The Thurmeiers often volunteer with another family that are relatively close too, the Brades. Obviously his family has had a major positive impact on his willingness to help others and those in need.

Thurmeier believes volunteering is crucial for anyone who has a hand to lend, to lend a hand. Jacob Thurmeier clearly loves to help out when he can, he feels as if it is necessary when he sees others struggling to maintain a balanced lifestyle. “Ever since I was little I always had everything I’ve ever needed, and it’s sad to know that so many people don’t have and can’t have that even if they tried because of their situation,” he recalled. He feels that in order for our society to grow and thrive we have to continue to put in the effort, in particular he thinks that youth needs to participate and be more active with volunteering, and likewise the volunteering community will grow further and bigger in the future. Jacob Thurmeier knows the importance of helping others and tries to act on that importance everyday.

Now that Thurmeier has been active in the volunteering community for years he believes it is absolutely necessary for everyone to put in their best efforts to assist people in need. He has done many volunteering events with a smile on his face. He typically volunteers with larger organizations in Calgary AB, this includes the Mustard Seed, Salvation Army, in from the cold, the Magic of Christmas, running events, homeless shelters, helping out at food banks and fundraisers just to name a few. Volunteering is always something Thurmeier has always looked forward to. While asking questions to one of Thurmeier’s close friend who also volunteers Jude Brade said that, “Volunteering brings out a new light to Jacob,” and that “he’s never afraid of getting his hands dirty, and always brings up the mood by cracking a joke or two.” One of the biggest volunteering initiatives that Jacob Thurmeier has done is a “We to Me” trip to Ecuador and Peru with his family and the Brade family. They stayed in a small village for two weeks two summers ago. In that village they helped build functioning kitchen and bath houses in a small village off the Amazon River. “It was a life changing experience to first hand see how some people live and to be able to help them.” Said Thurmeier. Jude added “I’ve never seen Jacob that actively involved in something before, and seeing how we were able to help out in such a big way.” He is undeniably a good person and there’s plenty of evidence to show for it.

Jacob Thurmeier sees volunteering as a huge part of his life and would be a completely different person if he hadn’t had opportunities to help people the way he has. He has always loved to help people and will eternally love helping people. His family and friends help develop his passion for helping people through the years and the way he glady and actively volunteers around the world proves it. Jacob Thurmeier is an extraordinary person.