Standing out and speaking up in co-op
Through a series of challenging and eye-opening co-op experiences, Jessica Canlas discovered the importance of resilience, self-advocacy and staying true to her passion for medicine.
Jessica Canlas (she/her) (BSc ’25) reflects on her co-op experience as a Biochemistry student. Post-graduation, Jessica discusses the skills she gained from co-op, living away from home and shares advice for new co-op students. She details how her co-op experiences were unexpected, but still valuable in unique ways.
Jessica's co-op journey
Work term one: For her first work term, Jessica was a personal care worker for L’Arche in Hamilton, a group home for people with developmental disabilities. Her responsibilities included cooking, cleaning, delivering medication and assisting with daily tasks of the patients.
Work term two and three: Jessica then worked at SickKids for two co-op terms as a research student. Her tasks focused on data entry and administrative work. She also had the opportunity to shadow surgeries and be part of various research opportunities conducted by other surgeons, residents and fellows.
Work term four: For her final work term, Jessica was a biomedical engineering intern for a startup company called Sensoreal. There, she did a qualitative analysis for shellfish toxins, helping create a test to monitor the changes in toxin concentration due to climate change, temperature and other factors.
Q&A with Jessica
What was the most unexpected lesson you learned from your first co-op experience?
“It was so hands on, I was doing a lot of heavy work. Sometimes it got quite overwhelming and I struggled.”
“Each patient had their own routine but every day was unpredictable. Being at the front lines, especially recovering from the pandemic, it was difficult to have a work-life balance.”
“Only being able to interact with the patients and workers in the household, not seeing my family or friends often, already having difficulty communicating with patients for those who were nonverbal or highly dependable, really pushed me to become more resilient and patient.”
“It was a different experience than I first imagined, but I knew it would give me the right skills for med school.”
What was it like working at SickKids?
“When I saw the job description, I thought this was really cool. I knew it wasn't a lot of laboratory work, but I think just being in a research position, that's what I wanted. I wanted to explore what it meant to be a researcher beyond my experiences at Waterloo.”
“When I got there, it was a lot of reading and data entry. The work itself was quite repetitive, but it gave me valuable insight into the day-to-day responsibilities within a clinical environment. I had the opportunity to observe how doctors communicate, not only with other health care professionals as part of a collaborative team, but also with patients.”
“As part of the role, we had the opportunity to observe surgeries when permitted by the surgeons. I’m especially grateful to have worked with a spine surgeon who allowed me to sit in on several of his surgeries. I loved how the patients were handled with care and how everyone in the surgical room maintained professionalism, calmness and focus during surgeries.”
Can you share a moment from co-op that reaffirmed your passion for medicine?
“I think I took something from each of my co-ops. Each experience helped me recognize what I didn’t want and helped reaffirm my desire of studying medicine.”
“As a research assistant at SickKids, I loved talking with doctors across different departments. Watching the orchestra of tasks and responsibilities unfold during surgery gave me a deeper appreciation for how each role contributes to delivering high-quality health care and medicine to each patient.”
“I’m especially grateful for all the doctors, nurses and physiotherapists for sharing their knowledge with me, explaining their work, what they're looking for and how they got to their careers.”
I realized that no one's path is straightforward and they gave me a lot of advice to keep being resilient. They reminded me that it’s okay to take my time to figure out what I truly want to do.
“After experiencing major imposter syndrome at SickKids, I was determined to challenge myself to keep growing, improving and meaningfully contributing to the team. I found myself advocating not just for myself, but also for my coworkers, and I began taking initiative by effectively communicating my ideas and suggestions to become more involved in various projects.”
“From this co-op, I learned that I’ll encounter work environments where colleagues and/or supervisors may not always be open to listening, but I also realized that I’m ready to face those challenges and that I can handle them with confidence and resilience.”
What was it like adapting to living in Montreal for co-op?
“Montreal pushed me out of my comfort zone, but it also made the experience more enriching. Living alone gave me a lot of personal growth like navigating a new city and making new friends. With all of its culture and vibrancy I learned to embrace the unfamiliar, met so many great people and really started to build a sense of independence.”
“I think people are drawn to going abroad for co-op because it offers a unique sense of freedom and self-discovery. Like a transformation. You’re there with a purpose to learn, to grow, to contribute, both at work and outside of it.”
“Being in a new environment allows you to step outside your comfort zone, explore different cultures and gain a deeper understanding of yourself. It’s a rare chance to combine professional development with meaningful life experience, growing both professionally and personally.”
If you could go back and give your first-year self one piece of advice about co-op, what would it be?
“Research the companies. Try to see if you can contact other co-op students who have worked there before. I know there is a feature on WaterlooWorks that shows feedback from past co-op students. I think that's really beneficial, especially if you're unsure about the position or workplace. It's just to get a better idea of the company's values and how well they treat their co-op students.”
“I would also maybe say just to keep applying. It's a competition with not just your program, but with all the other co-op students. So just apply to all the positions that you're interested in and take it one step at a time. You never know what opportunities might come your way, that’s how I found my job in Montreal.”
What’s next for you?
“I'm taking a year off. After years of studying and pushing myself in school, co-op and extracurricular activities, I'm tired and I just need a break. Some of my friends are diving straight into their master’s/PhD programs, but stepping back a bit is what’s best for me right now.”
“I will be looking into master’s programs and other professional programs as well. I've been studying for my MCAT and researching medical schools. I plan to do my MCAT this year.”
“I'll also be going to Italy this summer. I dance professionally for a junior company, so I'll be going there to tour with them. So it’s something that I’m really looking forward to and I know it will be really fun.”
“I have always loved finding ways to balance my two passions, science and dance. Joining the University of Waterloo Dance Company, I was able to do just that, but with school taken priority, it’s exciting now to step aside from science a bit and enjoy dance.”