Making co-op work for you

Are you feeling bored sitting in class?

Tatiana Takes Contributor

Education comes in many forms, but it’s often misinterpreted as being only for the classroom, with lectures, assignments, and tests. In–class education doesn’t have to be the only way for someone to learn; it’s im-

Maeve McGuinnessGrade 11

portant to make education work for you. North Toronto offers cooperative education (co-op) for grade 11 and grade 12 students to earn 1-4 credits in a placement they choose from a set list of options. Many students take part in this program to improve their experience in the real world and learn about where they could be in a matter of years. School doesn’t last forever and soon, most students will be entering the workforce. Placements can include hospitals, banks, elementary schools, construction signs and vet clinics. However, coop might not be beneficial if you are unsure what the future holds after graduation. Since a student has their choice of placement, knowing what to select is essential. The student that will have the most success in a co-op program will know what placement they want. They will take initiative every day by asking questions, estab-

Severyn GomolkaGrade 11

1. What is your field of interest for the future?

The field I want to work in in the future is Medicine, specifically internal medicine.

2. What placement were you given?

I work in the Hematology clinic at Princess Margaret Cancer Center.

3. What tasks do you take part in for your placement (anything interesting that you do)?

I help check in patients and take them into their rooms. This involves handing out any paperwork to new or returning patients, putting on wristbands, and filling out billing sheets. I also have to check the status of other patients and doctors to make sure all of the rooms are full and the wait is kept to a minimum. I also help the nurses and receptionists to coordinate appointments with other departments at PMH and other hospitals such as Toronto General and Mount Sinai.

4. What have you learned with co-op and was it worth taking co-op over the classroom?

I have learned a lot about the healthcare environment and the way a hospital functions. Overall, I would say that taking co-op is definitely worth it when you’re working in a placement that you’re passionate about. I would also say that it is a big commitment and more strenuous than taking other lishing contacts, and speaking to people from different departments. Keep in mind, co-op is still a form of learning; it is crucial to embrace the opportunity. Above all, if you are a student who knows where their passions lie, co-op could be perfect for you. Read further to learn about specific experiences NT students have had in co-op!

1. What is your field of interest for the future?

My field of interest for work in the future is something in business / law.

2. What placement were you given?

I was able to get a placement at Parker & Company, a law firm right down the street from here. They have been practicing in Toronto for 25 years, and they do Family Law & Estate Law.

3. What tasks do you take part in for your placement (anything interesting that you do)?

When I am given work, most of the time it’s normal office work, like scanning, printing, filing, correcting documents, etc. Sometimes, I am asked to review other legal documents such as Wills, Affidavits, and more. It’s interesting because I have the opportunity to read specific cases in detail, and try to analyze it and make sense of it.

4. What have you learned with coop and was it worth taking co-op over the classroom?

I’ve learned quite a lot of things at the law firm so far, and it was 100% worth taking co-op instead of another course. There’s really nothing that can prepare you more for your field of work than just working there.

Joshua ZippanGrade 11

1. What is your field of interest for the future?

Aviation

2. What placement were you given? BMO Placement

3. What tasks do you take part in for your placement (anything interesting that you do)?

Office work ie processing checks

4. What have you learned with coop and was it worth taking co-op over the classroom?

Definitely was better than being in the classroom you get work experience and learn how communicate with coworkers better

Emilie MaddenGrade 11

1. What is your field of interest for the future?

I am interested in the medical field, specifically healthcare.

2. What placement were you given?

I am at Mount Sinai hospital in the fracture clinic and NICU.

3. What tasks do you take part in for your placement (anything interesting that you do)?

In the fracture clinic I am in charge of placing patients in their beds once they arrive, organizing medical equipment, retrieving different medical equipment which varies depending on each procedure, but as time goes on, I am allowed to do more hands-on procedures. In the NICU it’s less hands-on as the babies are very premature therefore they are very susceptible to infection as their immune systems have not been given the time to strengthen.

4.What have you learned with co-op and was it worth taking co-op over the classroom?

I have learned so much about the medical environment and how I want to work in it in the future. I learn so much about people and how to socialize in a professional setting, but also about medical procedures and the body, and medical school level curriculum.

Lily KanyamunyuGrade 11

1. What is your field of interest for the future?

I would like to be a Human Rights Lawyer, I plan on studying International Development for my undergrad.

2. What placement were you given?

I was given a placement at Habitat for Humanity GTA and at the Restore

3. What tasks do you take part in for your placement (anything interesting that you do)?

I engage with volunteers doing work in store and in the warehouse such as pricing and handling furniture.

4. What have you learned with coop and was it worth taking co-op over the classroom?

Co-op is an interesting experience, I would recommend it for anyone who would like a chance to grow both in the workforce and mentally due to its everyday challenges. It is worth taking because it teaches you life skills that you might not attain only in class.

Sydney GrabenGrade 12

1. What is your field of interest for the future?

The field that I am pursuing is International Mediation. I would be part of an international organization (ie. UN, International Mediation Institute, etc).

2. What placement were you given? For my co-op placement, I was working at Alternative Dispute Resolution Chambers. I got this placement through connections.

3. What tasks do you take part in for your placement (anything interesting that you do)?

Since ADR was still transitioning out of COVID-19, a majority of my placement was online. Other than helping on Zoom I would send emails to the parties’ lawyers requesting briefs for the mediation. Other times I would be able to skip the whole day of school and cover the receptionist at ADR.

4. What have you learned with coop and was it worth taking co-op over the classroom?

The stuff I learned at my co-op is something that I could never have learned in the classroom. It is so important to have these hands-on experiences not just to have them on your resume but to know what you want in the future.

Apple vs Alternatives

Is the fruit fresh or rotten?

Elsa Scurfield Contributor

After asking the students of NT for their input on the ongoing Apple Vs. Android debate, the results were shocking. Everyone I asked believed that Apple phones were, in some way, superior. Their reasoning came down to three main points.

Apple’s exclusivity and prestige: “Apple is more well known and it is more exclusive” -Molly Tutching

Due to their high prices, status and distinction have been linked with owning Apple products and their newest models. People look at phones as a status symbol, as if having a “better” phone makes you a “better” person.

Apple’s features and compatibility with other products: “Apple products have many good features” -Brooke Stemmle

Even if you prefer another phone brand, people still want Apple watches, iPads, and MacBooks. You can have these things without an Apple phone, but let’s be honest, it’s so much easier if you do.

Apple wants it to be more difficult for you to use non-apple products with the rest of their product line. Apple’s phone design: “I just personally like the design of the phones better, it is much more simple” -Evelyn Radford

Although other phone brands are looking more and more like Apple products, the sleek design and tasteful colour palette have not yet been mastered by other brands. Despite being more expensive, it is clear that the materials of Apple products match the market prices; this prohibits them from being effectively replicated.

As a result of these combined factors, Apple is widely considered the “superior” form of phone and technology products overall. That being said, there is a reason this is such a long-lived debate, and there are many points of view - you certainly shouldn’t be shamed if you disagree!