'This feels right': celebrating SEE U of T student voices and achievements

When grade 11 student Atqar Ally stepped up to the podium in Waters Lounge on June 13, she reflected on the sense of possibility her recent co-op placement at U of T had opened up for her. “I feel more confident, prepared, and genuinely excited about my future and what post-secondary life holds for me.”  

Atqar was one of 13 Toronto District School Board (TDSB) grade 11 students who completed year one of the Support, Engage, Experience University of Toronto (SEE U of T) program in June 2025. Her excitement about the future was echoed in the words of her fellow students as they each took a turn at the podium to reflect on their achievements in the program so far.  

The group had gathered at Woodsworth College on June 13, along with staff from U of T and the TDSB, to celebrate their completion of the co-op portion of the program. Throughout the afternoon, peals of laughter, hollers of support, and hugs of gratitude seemed contagious amongst the students and the U of T staff who had supported them.  

The SEE U of T Program 

First launched in 2019 through a collaboration between Woodsworth College and the TDSB, SEE U of T is a two-year access program designed to empower racialized secondary school students who are historically underrepresented in post-secondary settings by offering experiential and academic learning opportunities on campus. This year’s SEE U of T cohort included students from Jarvis Collegiate Institute, Central Technical School, Western Technical School and Central Toronto Academy.

During their first year in the program, Grade 11 students participate in a co-op placement on U of T’s St. George campus and engage in student life activities. During Grade 12, the same cohort returns to earn university credit by completing a first-year U of T course. Students also receive academic skill development and guidance on how to apply to post-secondary studies. Upon completion of the program, students can more easily envision themselves thriving and belonging in a university setting. 

Co-op placements on the St. George campus  

SEE U of T co-op placements are intensive, hands-on experiences where students support projects and contribute to departmental goals. Through these placements, students gain firsthand experience in a professional setting while building confidence, leadership, and communication skills. By learning how professional workplace environments function, they leave better prepared for future work opportunities. 

Each student in the 2025 cohort participated in a co-op placement from February to June, four afternoons per week, at one of 15 different departments across U of T. This was complemented by a co-curricular day held each Friday where the group gathered for experiential learning and campus exploration, covering topics such as wellness, Black history, student leadership and networking skills.   

Student voices were central to the celebration on June 13 as each student had a chance to speak about how the co-op program had changed them and what they had gained from it. For Julian Anstett, a co-op at the Woodsworth College Office of the Registrar provided an opportunity to create a digital storytelling blog chronicling the experience of this year’s SEE U of T cohort. Julian also conducted a series of video interviews with his fellow students, culminating in a SEE U of T video project that captured the heart and spirit of this year’s participants. Premiered for the first time during Julian’s remarks, the video screening proved to be one of the most impactful moments of the afternoon.  

When student Natasha Chew Hassan addressed the crowd, she explained, “I have grown so much - like the habits I picked up, such as attending regularly and having the best attendance of my high school career,” adding that she had felt supported throughout the program by a “new family-like community.”   

Atqar Ally reflected on how the program had transformed her journey from something “blurry” into something “crystal clear,” adding, “It’s opened my eyes to what university life is really like – the expectations, the opportunities, and the support systems that exist to help students thrive.”   

Supervisors also spoke about the changes they saw in their students. Kai Wiigs Boswell completed his co-op under the supervision of Modele Kuforiji, student life coordinator at the Black Student Engagement Office. Modele reflected on how Kai had transformed during his placement. “In the beginning, he was kind of shy,” recalled Modele. But within a few short months, Kai was assisting Modele with large-scale recruitment events. “At our last recruitment event, at a big college, we were in a room full of 16-year-olds and we were running an activity. Kai stood at the front of the room and commanded their attention with ease. I knew right then: he's grown into a leader. I literally saw him turn into a leader, right before my eyes. I couldn't be happier - I couldn't be more proud of him.”  

Following their co-op semester, members of the 2025 cohort continued to find new opportunities to grow and learn within the University. Two students were accepted into the Temerty Faculty of Medicine’s Summer Mentorship Program, another was offered a paid internship with the LAWS program at U of T’s Faculty of Law, and two students were awarded scholarships from the Black Students’ Association. 

Forging meaningful connections 

For the U of T staff acting as SEE U of T co-op supervisors, the program offers the rewarding opportunity to mentor motivated students who bring fresh perspectives and energy to their teams. By bringing together students and staff with diverse experiences, the program allows students to see themselves reflected in staff, while staff have the opportunity to share their experiences with the next generation, creating a cycle of learning and mentorship that strengthens the entire university community.   

“What's really special to me about this program is that I was also the first in my family to go to school, so I know what it's like when you are navigating something totally different,” said co-op supervisor Roxanne Wright, manager of Continuing Education at St. Michael’s College. “Your family might support you, but there's very little that they can do that's practical, or from their own experience. It's a point where you kind of separate from your family - when you go a different path after high school. It was really awesome for me to be part of this program that gives people so much support and so much encouragement. It's such an amazing group of people and staff. It's something I was very, very happy to be a part of."

Reflecting on the growth he had witnessed in his student, Kai, through their connection this year, Modele Kuforiji shared his aspirations for the next SEE U of T cohort. “I hope I can impact the students as much as I impacted Kai. I think it's important for Black students to see themselves [at U of T]. I saw myself here, I was so happy to go here, and I want other Black students to feel the same way I did. So, I hope if they aren't sure where they want to go, I can convince them that this is the place for them. And if they are sure, I want to give them tools to succeed when they get to that place.”  

Ellen Ocran, recruitment officer at the Faculty of Arts & Science, who supervised SEE U of T student Amina Darboe, echoed this perspective. “What I saw happen with Amina, and I think what all the students shared, is that they cannot do what they do not see, and they were actually able to see themselves here. I think that's everything: just being able have that experience and being able to see yourself in that space.”  

Future directions 

The SEE U of T program will expand in Winter 2026 with a larger cohort of students. As part of this growth, the program will create additional meaningful co-op placements on campus, giving more students the opportunity to gain hands-on professional experience while seeing themselves thriving in post-secondary education. Meanwhile, students who completed their co-op placements in June 2025 will return this fall for the academic portion of the program, where they will complete a U of T course credit. 

Applications for the 2026 program are now open and students can learn more and apply via the SEE U of T website.  

U of T staff are warmly encouraged to take part in this rewarding program by hosting a co-op student in 2026. Staff interested in hosting a student can email Kim Cuozzo to learn more. 

'This feels right'

Atqar Ally was last to speak at the June 13 event, and her parting words served as both a call to action and a moving testament to the program’s importance and impact. Describing SEE U of T as a “needed change” to the current school system, she added, “Representing an amazing, diverse group of students to showcase our strengths in a place where we are usually underrepresented is a massive change moving forward.” To close, she shared a poem about her experience, leaving the audience to feel, in a visceral way, how the program had helped her to know that she truly belongs: 

I feel at peace here,
More welcomed than ever before,
Like I’ve finally stepped
Through a long-closed door.

The air feels softer,
The weight’s not as tight,
I’m seen in the daytime,
I’m thought about at night.

Smiles that reach me,
Words that stay,
Kindness that doesn’t
Just drift away.

I’m not just a guest –
I’m part of the light.
And for once in my life,
This feels right.

- Poem by Atqar Ally

Story by Emma Culpeper. Photos by Saksham Tripathi & Emma Culpeper. Photo editing by Quynh Anh Nguyen.