Before I ever set foot at St. FX, everyone asked me the same question: “What do you want to do when you’re older?” Although this seems like one of the easiest questions to answer, it’s actually one of the hardest, due to the disconnect between theory in the classroom and application in the real world. I firmly believe the St. FX Co-op Program bridges this gap by providing meaningful, paid exposure to life after university and giving a leg up on the competition as a fresh grad entering the workforce. Simply put, the St. FX Co-op Program's hands-on approach to learning taught me problem-solving, teamwork, communication, time management, adaptability, and multitasking in a way that the classroom cannot replicate.
The St. FX Co-op Program and its incredible staff grant students the opportunity to critically reflect on and understand their strengths, interests, and dislikes—all of which lead to clear and concise future career goals. Through three distinct work terms, I leveraged these strengths to achieve feats I could never have imagined, such as auditing multi-million dollar companies and presenting a comprehensive, data-analytics-backed competitive analysis to the senior management board at a multinational firm. Not to mention, the co-op wage requirements set by the university helped alleviate a major stressor by allowing me to graduate debt-free.
For those searching to get more out of their university experience, without a doubt, my time as a co-op student is the single most influential part of my time at St. FX. It has shaped my future career goals and values and makes answering “What do you want to do when you’re older?” just a little bit easier.
