Skip to main content
SFU Student Undergraduate
Communication, Art + Technology › Communication

Balloons floating in the sky

As an undergraduate student who decided to switch my degree from psychology to communication on a whim, I was very nervous about my future career path, especially since I felt like I was the only person that had no big dreams in life. Therefore, I decided to apply to Co-op to start piecing together my goals and ambitions.

When I received the call that held the offer for my Co-op position, I immediately accepted thinking that I can't risk this opportunity. My new role as an Event Coordinator was my first professional job, and I quickly began to feel nervous. I thought to myself, will I be a good worker? Will I succeed in this role I know very little about? Is this even what I want to pursue? My nerves were quickly settled after my first day on the job, as I was engulfed by the most amazing team. The individuals within the organization I work at are not only kind, but they are motivational, supportive, and BADASS. I did not work at any ordinary company - I had the privilege to work among a group of people that foster a safe, inclusive, and fun environment through the art of roller skating.

As an Event Coordinator, I also could work from the comfort of my own home while also being able to attend and work at the events I helped plan. In this role, I gained experience in a little bit of everything which was so great since I got to find out what interested me the most. The feeling can be compared to elective rotations in high school, getting to work on a variety of tasks that in the end, would help me navigate my interests in the field. Whenever my supervisors asked me if I wanted to take on a new task, I always said yes! I wished to build my skillset by working on a diverse range of projects. I found that one of my favorite things to work on was social media and content creation. There is something about creating an amazing poster for an event and seeing it plastered all over the walls at work as well as online that made me feel accomplished.

Apart from what one may call “professional opportunities”, the opportunity that I would have never thought I would get through a co-op position in a million years was presented to me: free roller skating lessons! This was an opportunity I could not pass on, so I decided to take an introductory course. After this lesson, I became more confident on skates, was able to roller skate while I worked at events, and even gave insight to guests who needed help skating! Moreover, working at the events was the most amazing experience! Not many Co-op students can say that they got paid to roller skate! I was able to throw on a pair of skates and roll around the rink capturing content for our social media pages as well as simply enjoying myself.

As my Co-op term comes to an end, I can say that I now have ambitions and goals within my career path that I aim to achieve. I suddenly feel excited to graduate and continue my education to achieve those dreams I didn’t have 4 months ago. I never thought working as an Event Coordinator for my first Co-op position would help me find the light in the darkness. This is for all those students who are in the same position I was in earlier and uncertain about their educational goals or career ambitions. My experience goes to show that taking any opportunity you get, might just lead you to success.

SFU Student Undergraduate
visibility  181
Dec 1, 2022

Posts by Author

Emma standing in front of the pond at SFU Burnaby
Blog
A Co-op Student’s Guide to Media Relations

Like many Communications students, I came into the School of Communication very interested in media; both studying it and working in it. I found it harder and harder to pinpoint where I could fit into it professionally as I learned more about it. What do you do when you’re interested in media, but not sure you want to work directly in media?

A phone on the home screen where the apps for Twitter, Facebook and Instagram can be seen
Blog
Tips for Effective Social Media Marketing

When promoting events and news on social media on behalf of a club, service, or business, the main goal is to get as many eyes as possible on the content. One of my tasks in my 8-month Co-op position was to post updates on their social media accounts, which includes job postings, upcoming events, and special announcements. Over these months, I was able to find useful strategies and tools to help me manage these profiles effectively and efficiently.

Co-op students standing outside around a sign that says "SFU"
Blog
Event Planning 101: 3 Tips for Planning an Event even Gen-Z’s will Enjoy

Coming into this Co-op position as an Outreach, Promotion, and Engagement Coordinator for SFU’s School of Communication, I was not expecting to gain any sort of event planning experience. Creating an event for our incoming students for Fall 2023, was a brand-new concept that flourished this semester.

You Might Like These... Academic Success, Convocation, Professional Development, Major Decisions, Life Experience, Community

Photo of Aleeze Asif
The Journey from Business to Arts

Aleeze reflects on a major career decision that led her to switch majors from Businesss to SIAT and how that positively affected her life.

A laptop on a desk with a site containing different scenic images
What did I do to Extinguish my Co-op Nerves?

This was it. I finished writing my resumes, successfully passed the interview process, and accepted the job offer with cheers of joy. I told my mother with a large grin on my face, but in the midst of my excitement, my smile slightly lowered, and a wave of nervousness washed over me.

Student standing next to a sign at an outdoor event
A Q&A with a MA Political Science Co-op Student

Meet Aliyah Datoo, an SFU Master of Political Science Co-op student. In this quick Q&A, Aliyah shares a bit about her co-op experience. Keep on reading as Aliyah shares her day to day tasks, the onboarding process and how she has felt about the experience.

You Might Like These... Major Decisions

Annelyse standing in front of a window
Interview with an Arts Co-op Student: How a Policy Intern Position Improves your Writing

Meet Annelyse Ross, a Political Science and Social Data Analytics Co-op student. In this quick Q&A, Annelyse shares about her co-op experience. Read about how she discusses how she determines if a position is a good fit for her, what she did in her Policy Intern position and even how she got to travel as part of her position.

laptop showing online meeting with coffee cup beside
The Introvert’s Guide to Networking and Making Quality Connections

Networking can seem like a daunting task, especially for introverts who prefer quiet and solitude to socializing in large, noisy gatherings. Good news is that there are effective ways for introverts to build meaningful connections without straying too far from their comfort zones.

An image of Kelly Chiang
Transitioning From Study to Work Life

As a fifth year Health Science Co-op Student, Kelly Chiang shares her advice for students interested in integrating valuable work experience with their classroom learning.