Connecting communities through science and consulting
Stepping into his first professional workplace, Ethan Pruchnicki expected to learn technical skills. Instead, he discovered confidence, found his voice and realized that growth often begins outside your comfort zone.
Ethan Pruchnicki, a second-year Science and Business student specializing in Biology, began his co-op journey with an introduction to consulting. From collaborating with multiple teams and travelling across Ontario to delivering presentations and developing professional confidence, Ethan's first work term showed him that every new experience is an opportunity to grow.
Ethan’s co-op journey
Environmental Co-op Student, Arup, Toronto, ON
During his first co-op term, Ethan joined Arup's environmental team, where he created technical diagrams, presentations and other project materials while supporting Indigenous engagement initiatives. He also collaborated with the marketing and transit teams and travelled to Ottawa, Kingston and Toronto to attend conferences and deliver presentations. The experience gave him the opportunity to contribute to projects across multiple disciplines while building confidence in communication.
Q&A with Ethan
What were you hoping to learn from your first co-op?
"Before this, my only work experience was at Tim Hortons, so I was really curious about what working in a professional office would actually be like.”
"I wanted to learn how to communicate with managers, understand workplace expectations and figure out what day-to-day life looked like in an office. Looking back, I learned all of those things and gained a much better understanding of how to work professionally."
What challenged or surprised you most during your work term?
"Professional communication was definitely one of the biggest learning curves.”
"There were small workplace things that I just didn't know yet, like remembering to CC the right people or understanding certain office etiquette. Thankfully, my managers were really supportive. Whenever I made a mistake, they took the time to explain it instead of making me feel bad about it, so I was able to learn quickly and become more confident.”
"I also expected consulting to be a much more intense environment than it actually was. At the end of the day, everybody's just people. Everyone was really friendly, approachable and willing to help, which made it much easier to ask questions, learn new things and settle into the role."
What accomplishments are you most proud of?
"One of the biggest highlights of my work term was travelling across Ontario to give presentations about Indigenous engagement at high schools, universities and conferences.”
"The first few presentations were definitely intimidating because I didn't feel very qualified to speak in front of so many people. But every time I presented, I became a little more confident.”
"One moment that really stuck with me happened after a presentation at a high school. The students had been energetic throughout the session, but afterward one of them came up to me, thanked me for speaking and shook my hand. It reminded me that even small conversations can have a meaningful impact."
How has your background shaped your co-op journey?
"I'm a member of the Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation, and my background has definitely influenced my journey.”
"The Indigenous community at Waterloo has been incredibly supportive throughout my time here. Catherine Porter (Co-op Student Experience Manager, Indigenous Relations) helped me get my first co-op, and there are always events where students can connect and support one another.”
"Joining the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) has also opened up a lot of opportunities. We've been able to travel, meet other Indigenous students in STEM and build a strong community together.”
"At the same time, I didn't want my work term to be only about Indigenous engagement. I also worked on technical projects, and I'm proud my co-op allowed me to develop technical skills and contribute to work that aligned with my values."
How has co-op influenced your future career goals?
"Before this work term, I didn't know much about consulting.”
"Now that I've had the chance to experience it, I can definitely see myself applying for more consulting roles or other large firms in the future. At the same time, I still want to keep exploring different industries because every co-op teaches you something new about what you enjoy."
What advice would you give students looking for their first co-op?
"Don't give up."
"Finding your first co-op can be really stressful, especially if you don't get an offer during the first or second cycles. It can be discouraging, but keep applying all the way to the end. You never know when the right opportunity will come along."
"Every application and interview is helping you build experience, even if it doesn't feel like it in the moment. Looking back, I can see that each step prepared me for the opportunity that was the right fit."
"Everyone understood that this was my first work term and wanted to help me succeed. Starting from the bottom gave me the chance to learn, grow and build a foundation for everything to come."
What's next?
"Right now, I'm searching for my next co-op and interviewing with a few different companies.”
"I want to keep exploring different career paths to figure out what I enjoy most. Consulting is definitely something I'd consider again, but I'm also interested in seeing where my Biology background could take me, including opportunities in health care.”
"Long term, I'd love to continue my education with a master's degree or even a PhD."