Category: Parent Association

The Reproductive Sciences Research Lab at the Toronto Zoo was Arman Momeni’s home for a month this summer. The Bayview Glen (BVG) student did a co-op education placement at the national research lab, which houses samples from across the country. 

Arman was the only BVG student to participate in this unique experiential opportunity. 

He reflects on the placement, in his own words. 

What made you want to take the Cooperative Education course? 

High School is a difficult, yet exciting period of time. We are provided with so much opportunity, but at the same time, we are expected to know what we want to do for the rest of our lives. While enriching and educative, the classroom experience simply cannot provide students with a solidified understanding of the world past post-secondary. When I heard about the Cooperative Education course and the opportunity to gain experience in a specific industry, I knew I had to take it. I aspired to gain a more robust understanding of what I wanted for my future. 

What drew you to the specific industry in the placement you chose? 

I have always been conflicted in what I want to pursue after my time at Bayview Glen. Every class I have taken has intrigued me in its own unique way, which has left me in this difficult crossroads between several different disciplines. That being said, I have always found my home to be in the biology classroom. Learning about the human body, the most beautifully engineered mechanism on this planet, has always fascinated me. Nonetheless, within the field of biology there are still so many potential careers that one can pursue. Personally, I have been stumped between a career in research or a career in medicine. I was drawn to my specific industry, reproductive research, because I already had some experience in the medical field, but research was completely new to me. I wanted to step out of my comfort zone, learn more about the field of research, and, in turn, learn more about myself. 

How would you describe the application preparation process, prior to your interview? 

The application preparation process was very straightforward and catered to each specific individual. Ms. Dybala ensured that I was taking the right steps, led me in the right direction, and provided me with several tips and tricks to tackle the interview in a professional and effective manner.  

What has surprised you most so far about your placement? 

Going into my placement, I expected to be treated like a student, not an employee; however, that could not have been further from the truth. From my first day at the placement, I was treated like a colleague and was given the same expectations as a paid worker. While challenging to get used to, the realism of this experience has provided me with so much beneficial experience and training to become a master in the workplace. 

Could you provide 2 or 3 examples of things you have learned that have impacted you? 

There were several experiences within my Cooperative Education experience, which have impacted me:  

I learned about the harsh world of research. You are constantly working hard, and you are never guaranteed the results you want. People who work in research have an amazing level of resilience to push through the barriers and the unsatisfying results they are constantly faced with.  

I learned that the workplace is tiring. No matter what industry you work in, you will have to very work hard. You must have discipline so that you can push through the times when you are simply not motivated to be working.  

It is important to build connections. On my first day I felt like an outsider. I didn’t know anyone, and no one knew who I was. However, as time went on, I started to make a name for myself by reaching out, talking to different people, and helping out whenever I could.  

Has this experience influenced your outlook (career, future)? If so, in what ways? 

I went into the Cooperative Education program with several goals in mind. I wanted to learn more about the workplace, my future aspirations, and learn about myself. This experience, undoubtedly, has influenced my outlook on my career. After experiencing four weeks in the research world, I know that research is something that I must incorporate in my future, regardless of how I do it. The thrill of not knowing something, and then working hard to find the answer, is unmatched. Research is a different type of learning; one that takes place outside of the classroom and provides an endless world of possibilities. 

Anything else you’d like to add? 

I believe that the Cooperative Education course is something that every single high school student should experience, and I promise they will not regret it. You will learn so much that you are not able to learn within the classroom environment, and I am sure that you will leave the experience feeling accomplished and having a better sense of self. 

Related links: 

Summer Co-op Experience Student Reflection: Faraaz Quereshy
Summer Co-op Experience Student Reflection: Brandon Tai
A Summer to Remember: Co-op Experience Impacts

Bayview Glen student Arman Momeni participated in a summer co-op experience at the Toronto Zoo

Eye-opening.  

That’s one way to summarize a memorable summer for a dozen Bayview Glen (BVG) students, all of them in Grade 11. 

Impactful would be another adjective to encapsulate the experience. 

“Going into my placement, I expected to be treated like a student, not an employee,” says Arman Momeni. “However, that could not have been further from the truth.” 

Arman earned a coveted spot in a Summer Co-op Education experience facilitated by the Student Services Department at BVG and external organizations. His took place at the Reproductive Sciences Research Lab at the Toronto Zoo. 

“From my first day at the placement, I was treated like a colleague and was given the same expectations as a paid worker,” continues Arman. “While challenging to get used to, the realism of this experience has provided me with so much beneficial experience and training to become a master in the workplace.” 

Meanwhile, in downtown Toronto, 10 other BVG students were immersed in a month-long experiential learning opportunity in healthcare at Mount Sinai Hospital. 

“This experience has definitely had a great influence on my career decision,” says Rojin Ahmadi, who was placed in the Neo-natal intensive care unit at Mount Sinai. “Before participating in this program, I have always known I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, but I was not completely sure in what setting (hospital, private clinic, research lab, care facilities). However, after working in the hospital for a whole month in the NICU, I formed an idea,” she says. 

Bayview Glen student Rojin Ahmadi, pictured left, completed her summer co-op placement in the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mount Sinai Hospital

Rojin and her schoolmates underwent a strenuous process to earn their placements. It included completing a detailed application form and going through an interview before being selected. 

“We interviewed 158 students in June,” says Theresa Shiel, Senior Manager, Volunteer Resources, referring to the co-op program the hospital runs in September and February, from which only 52 students are selected to participate. 

Shiel oversees the Student Co-op program across Sinai Health. “BVG students were interviewed among 30 students seeking summer placement,” she says. 

“My goal is that the students are learning,” continues Shiel, who has been part of Volunteer Services at the hospital for more than 20 years. We start with an information session introducing our co-op program and positions available to the students.Those interested have the opportunity to complete an application. We interview them and if selected these students receive onboarding documentation (confidentiality, privacy, etc.) and e-learning modules.” 

Shiel and a colleague meet with each candidate for 30 minutes to ensure the right fit. 

Theresa Shiel and Ramiro Rodriguez Puig plan, organize and coordinate student co-op opportunities at Mount Sinai

“I don’t believe in just looking at resumes. I need to meet the students,” says Shiel who works within a team of six. “We want to know about what they want and what they hope to gain from us. We have a scale. Do we think that they’re the right students? Some of our placements have only one position, like cardiology, surgical skills, fracture clinic, etc. You could have 20 students interested, so we really have to then go back and look at every application. We have to look at our notes. Then we go back to a shortlist, then we might re-interview. We might do a whole bunch of things before we pick the right student. And we’ve been pretty good at picking all the right students,” she says. 

Ramiro Rodriguez Puig is Co-op Coordinator, Volunteer Resources at Mount Sina Hospital. He works directly with schools and students interested in placement opportunities. 

“It is really rewarding,” says Rodriguez Puig, referring to his role. “They [students] are adding value to Mount Sinai Hospital. We have supervisors here [from various hospital departments] who give us feedback and they really appreciate the students’ work.” 

The Co-op Program at Mt. Sinai receives applications from more than 30 schools including from the Toronto Catholic School Board, Toronto District School Board, along with two private schools. 

Ten students participated in a co-op education experience in July 2023 at Mount Sinai, among a total of 12 BVG students to take part in the experiential opportunity

Students also earn a credit as part of the Cooperative Education course. 

“Our goal is to seek out opportunities in the desired industry [of each student],” says Dybala. “When they apply, they express an interest they would like to explore and then we let them know whether there is a placement available in that industry. Then they actually have to apply for the position and send in a resume.” 

Dybala’s multi-layered role is hands-on and detailed from inception to delivery. 

“I am responsible for directing, coordinating, and overseeing the entire cooperative student experience,” she says. “Starting with procuring placements, scheduling, and preparation for interviews, delivery of curriculum, design of a student cooperative education plan, placement visits, supervisor partnership facilitation (how and what activities students can and should engage in to ensure their experience is authentic and enriched).” 

The impact is tangible. 

Bayview Glen student Brandon Tai participated in a summer experiential opportunity at Qvella.

“The Cooperative Education course prepares you extremely well for the application process,” says Brandon Tai, who completed a placement at Qvella, a clinical diagnostics company with a focus in microbiology. “Every Friday we had class, and the very first unit was on preparing for the application. We went through interview and resume tips as well as cover letters. This unit significantly helped me land my placement at Qvella”.  

 

This is the first in a series on the Summer Co-op Education Experience 2023.