Fort Frances High School students showcase co-operative education
Some Fort Frances High School students are getting a chance to test-drive a career.
They are the latest participants to take part in the school’s co-operative education program.
The program provides students with the opportunity to spend time in a workplace, helping to guide them toward a potential career path.
Students showcased their placements at the annual Co-Op Display Day.
Odin Gunderson spent his time in a grade 9 French class, helping students learn the language.
“I personally love teaching the language French, and I love the language itself,” says Gunderson.
“A number of my family members are teachers, so I wanted to carry on with that, see how I enjoy the profession.”
Grade 12 student Cleo Reynolds chose the Nor-west Animal Clinic for her placement, assisting with appointments and surgeries.
She says it is an avenue she is interested in.
“I want to be a vet, but it’s a lot of schooling, obviously, and I wanted to make sure it’s something I want to pursue before I go through with all that university education,” says Reynolds.
Aiden Loerzel was at Wright’s Physiotherapy, learning about various machines used in pain therapy.
He calls it a great experience.
“I’ve always been really interested in sports medicine,” says Loerzel.
“As an athlete myself, I get hurt a lot. I was pretty interested in the physio aspect and how pain works, and how to reduce it. So I was really interested in helping out with that and learning more from professionals and researching how the chemistry and all that works with the healing and recovery.”
He is now looking at the profession as a career path.
Grade 12 student Blaire Cross selected Giishkaandago’Ikwe Health Services, spending time with a program that responds to crises, as she considers a career in policing.
“I thought that this would be a really good fit for me because this is also related to mobile crisis and things like that because we’re connected very closely with the OPP,” says Cross.
“It felt really good as a person who could support and understand what other people are going through. But then it was also just a relief to understand that people are getting help and seeking the help that they need.”
Chase Felix took a trades route, working at Tresoor Contracting, where he was involved in carpentry work.
He says he wanted to get experience in a field he intends to pursue.
“It definitely helped. I do want to do something in the trades for sure,” says Felix.
“It’s a great experience to get out and do stuff and see if it’s truly what you want to do and learn about what you like and don’t like about the career path you think you want to get into.”
Qianna Bell is also interested in the trades.
She did placement in the high school’s shop classes, with a focus on welding.
“In grade nine, I started in shop classes, and I just continued with it. I figured out I loved welding,” says Bell.
She has already applied to enrol in Seven Generations Education Institute’s welding program.
“I have a lot of fun with co-op. I love doing it every time that I do it. This is my second year. It’s my favourite thing, and I suggest everybody goes and does it.”
Serenity McLeod also experienced the trades by working at RGB trucking to gain knowledge about being a heavy-duty mechanic.
“I’ve been into how things work, whether medically or mechanically,” says McLeod.
“(It’s) something I’m looking into. I do want to further my schooling, though, so it’s kind of a fallback, I guess.”
Students say they enjoyed the experience and recommend other students to enrol.
“You get a credit, and you get a lot of experience,” says McLeod.
“You can make new work friends. It’s a way to get your hands on without having to spend a lot of money on tools or try a career path without continuing your education,” says McLeod.
“The co-op is very fun once you get into it. The beginning can be a little bit steep, but as soon as you settle in, you’ll figure out what you really love about it, and you’ll find yourself enjoying yourself more,” adds Gunderson.
