How Co-op Evolved Me

Kaylee Higgs is a third-year student studying Communications at Simon Fraser University. She currently serves as VP of Marketing for the Communications Student Union, and recently completed her co-op at Moresports BC as a Community and Recreation Coordinator.

‍ ‍It’s the first week of classes, and I’ve been hearing about this thing called “co-op”. I know nothing about it, all I know is that you get to work for different companies and get credit for it. It sounds pretty interesting and something I might want to look into. Luckily for me, I do know someone who had just finished her co-op! Kaylee is a third-year student and member of the Communications Student Union (CMNSU). Having just finished her co-op, I thought she would be the perfect person to have a conversation about it with! 

What were your initial thoughts when you first heard of the co-op program, and what ultimately made you join?

Kaylee: When I first heard of the co-op program at SFU, I had definitely thought of trying it out. I thought it was a great way to connect students to local organizations, as well as for connecting newcomers to Canada who may not have many opportunities to integrate themselves into the job market. I was worried about finding a job in university myself, as I didn’t have many connections within the Communications department, so hearing about co-op sparked my interest as a pathway I could eventually look into. I was in my second year when I ultimately decided to begin co-op. Upon joining the CMNSU, I was able to learn about the benefits and experiences my colleagues had during their co-op terms, and I became inspired to begin my own co-op journey. Additionally, I got to hear the testimonies of others in my community, and all of their experiences were truly impactful for me.

What was your application process like for the co-op program? Is there anything you’d do differently were you to do it again?

K: The application process was actually the easiest part of my journey! I was able to learn a lot of information from Welcome Day as well as from seeing informational posters on the wall. There are many ways to inform yourself about the application process to make it as easy as possible for you! If i were to do anything different, I wish I would have started earlier!

What was your co-op all about? Why did you choose this one amidst the many to choose from?

K: I worked for a non-profit called Moresports BC as a community and recreational co-ordinator. Our tasks included going to different schools to explain the program and talking to admin, tabling at farmers markets, connecting to local businesses, and on top of it all, I got to manage event scheduling for summer camps and do some marketing work on the side! I chose this co-op in particular because I was looking for something that best aligned with my interests and moral compass! As someone who comes from an athletic background, I wanted something more dynamic and hands on. It was also a great opportunity for me because Moresports is based in the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody), and the SFU area! It was highly engaging to give back to the local area while being able to develop my skills at an entry level!

What was the learning curve like during your co-op? How long did it take you to get used to things?

K: I’ve only ever worked in customer service and minimum wage jobs, so there was a bit of a learning curve during the first week or two. Figuring out time management was a huge adjustment for me as the work-flow was much faster than anticipated, as well as working with a larger variety of generations. Even until the end of my co-op there were still things I was learning, however I would say around the two to four week mark, I felt comfortable in my role.

Participants at Moresports BC, Kaylee’s Co-op

Did anything shock you during your co-op? Was there something that you didn’t expect you’d see?

K: No one is as put together as you might think! I came into this role feeling quite nervous as I was placed into a group of four experienced interns. However, I learned that everybody is constantly learning and going through their own struggles! We all have different strengths and weaknesses — and finding my strengths amidst uncertainty was very motivating for me. Another thing that shocked me was the technicality of working for a non-profit organization.  There are quite a lot of road blocks in executing initiatives for the public good. One would think that non-profits would have easy access to resources, however the logistics of it all is rather very technical. I’ve always known these barriers existed, but being able to have hands-on practice with them was really valuable.

How did you evolve from the beginning to the end of your co-op?

K: I saw the biggest change in my confidence. A contributing factor to this was through learning about the importance of setting boundaries. At the beginning of my co-op, I felt obligated to accept every request given to me even if they were unrealistic or without giving push back. I learned about how to communicate better and manage tasks with my colleagues in a way that works for all parties involved, and ultimately having all the work was done in a productive manner.

What is your biggest takeaway from co-op?

K: In order to evolve, you need to step out of your comfort zone and understand that people are willing to help you. At first, I was nervous and didn’t know what was going on, but understanding that people around me want to see me thrive gave me a whole new perspective.

As you know, CMNSU's EVOLVE event is coming soon, and I urge you to step out of your comfort zone and join us! By attending EVOLVE, you’ll get the chance to connect with advisors and professors from the program, meet other communications students, and hear even more co-op testimonies! All students are welcome! Even if you just want to network, start community building, and learn useful insights, EVOLVE is the event for you!

It was so awesome chatting with Kaylee and hearing about her experiences. As someone who’s always been a little intimidated by job searching and internships, I feel much more comfortable now knowing how eye-opening and rewarding the co-op experience can actually be! Kaylee’s story makes me feel more inspired to go out there and try new things, no matter how scary it may seem, which is exactly why you’ll see me at EVOLVE on September 24th! Come find me at EVOLVE, let’s connect, and learn even more about co-op together!