During my time at OCWA, I have developed a variety of skills that will be valuable throughout my career. Professionally, I improved my communication and collaboration skills by working with individuals from different departments and backgrounds across the organization. I also gained experience creating training materials, documenting processes, coordinating projects, and supporting technology implementations. In addition, I strengthened my problem-solving, organization, and time-management skills by balancing multiple tasks and adapting to new challenges.

What is the most valuable takeaway from this co-op experience?

The most valuable takeaway from this co-op experience has been gaining an understanding of the impact that public service organizations can have on people’s everyday lives. Working at OCWA showed me how much effort, expertise, and coordination is required behind the scenes to deliver safe drinking water and wastewater services to communities across Ontario. It also reinforced the importance of collaboration, as every role within the organization contributes to a larger mission. This experience has given me a greater appreciation for the people and systems that support our communities and has provided lessons that I will carry forward into my future career.