“We see so much more": SEE U of T students celebrate completing their co-op year

For the 25 students who took part in this year’s SEE U of T cohort, completing the first stage of the two-year program was a chance to reflect on the experiences, relationships and possibilities they encountered in their co-op placements. 

At a celebration held on June 10 at Woodsworth College, students, supervisors and staff gathered in Waters Lounge to recognize the students’ achievements and mark an important milestone in their SEE U of T journey. The afternoon was a chance to celebrate how far students had come and look ahead to their second and final year of the program. 

The celebration began with remarks from Woodsworth College staff Natasha Jesenak, Director of Access Programs; Liza Nassim, Dean of Students; and Dan-Lee Athill, Coordinator, Student Programs & Access. Speakers from the Toronto District School Board included Allan Easton, Centrally Assigned Principal, and Fauzya Alarakhiya, SEE U of T Lead Teacher. 

Students also shared their own reflections on the year. Meaghan Charles-Williams and Fuhad Khan spoke on behalf of the cohort, reflecting on the friendships they formed, the challenges they overcame and the ways the program helped them discover new possibilities. “SEE U of T has been more than an outreach program,” said Khan. “We were once strangers, but over the course of these last months we became a community – a family.” 

One of the most memorable moments of the celebration came when each student stepped up to the microphone to share a three-line poem they had written. Their reflections captured the many ways the program had shaped their year, from discovering new interests to finding a sense of belonging at U of T. 

The students also took the opportunity to recognize the supervisors who had welcomed them into their workplaces, presenting each supervisor with a gift of appreciation. The moment highlighted one of the program’s most important relationships: the connection between students and the U of T staff members who supported them throughout their co-op placements. 

Building connections through campus experiences 

SEE U of T is a partnership between Woodsworth College and the Toronto District School Board that introduces high school students to university life through campus-based learning, mentorship and co-op placements. Through the program, students gain hands-on workplace experience, develop new skills and begin imagining themselves as future members of the U of T community. As they spend time on campus, they have opportunities to explore their interests and learn more about the educational pathways available to them.

For the students, however, the experience was about more than the work they completed. It was also about finding community, building relationships and discovering new possibilities.   

“The students themselves commented on finding their direction and purpose, feeling a sense of community with students who looked like them and improving their time management and organizational skills,” said Alarakhiya. 

For SEE U of T supervisors, welcoming students into their teams is an opportunity to support their development while gaining a fresh perspective from the next generation of learners. Cameron McBurney, a SEE U of T supervisor at Trinity College, described how a community approach allowed students to contribute to projects across different areas of the college, including events and catering, the library and wellness services. This approach gave students opportunities to work with different members of the college community while also allowing supervisors to share projects and support one another. 

McBurney said the experience left students feeling more at home on campus. 

“By being engaged, by being part of the community, they saw and they grew and they felt at home,” he said. 

A rewarding experience for supervisors and students alike 

Throughout their co-op placements, students worked with supervisors across 21 different sites on U of T’s St. George campus, gaining experience in a variety of roles and learning from staff members who supported their growth. 

For some students, the placement helped them build confidence in areas they were hoping to strengthen. 

When Maryam Yohannes began her placement at the Woodsworth College Office of the Registrar, she set a goal of becoming a more outgoing and effective communicator. Over the course of her Digital Storytelling placement, her supervisors Geran Collymore and Blake Smith noticed her confidence grow as she connected with staff, interviewed students and took on new challenges. 

Collymore was particularly impressed by an interview Maryam had conducted with an international student. 

“She leveraged her research and preparation to effortlessly build rapport with the student,” said Collymore. “She confidently navigated a conversation on complex STEM topics.” 

Smith also saw her develop confidence in her work and learn the value of collaboration. One moment that stood out was when Yohannes asked for support with a challenge she had initially hoped to solve independently. 

“She holds herself to very high standards,” Smith said. “It became a meaningful reminder that asking questions and collaborating ultimately strengthens our outcomes.” 

For other SEE U of T supervisors, the experience was an opportunity to support students as they explored their future goals. 

Rahim Dharamshi from the Woodsworth College Office of the CAO noticed increased confidence and initiative in his supervisee, Chaitanya Saini, throughout their placement. A conversation about building a resume and LinkedIn profile became a meaningful mentoring moment. 

“It highlighted how even small mentoring interactions can have a lasting impact,” Dharamshi said. 

For Natasha Jesenak, who supervised Chaance Wilks at Woodsworth College, the experience was an opportunity to learn alongside her supervisee while helping him develop the skills he wanted to strengthen. As the 2026 SEE U of T Digital Storyteller, Wilks documented his experience through the program’s weekly blog, sharing stories about his co-op placement and the people and activities that shaped his time on campus.

“Having little experience working with youth, I was nervous to take on the responsibility, but I am so glad I did,” Jesenak said. “The coaching and support of Fauzya allowed me to learn alongside Chaance. Knowing he had additional support and working as a team meant we were able to really hone the skills he wanted to develop. It was such a rewarding and delightful experience.” 

Looking ahead 

As the students move into their second and final year of the SEE U of T program, they take with them what they learned through their co-op placements and the relationships they formed across campus. 

For the supervisors and staff members who supported them along the way, the experience was a reminder of the impact that meaningful mentorship can have. 

“I would absolutely recommend being a SEE U of T supervisor,” said Alarakhiya. “It is such a rewarding experience knowing that you are directly affecting an individual and their trajectory in their lives.” 

As the afternoon came to a close, the students’ own words offered a fitting reflection on the year they had shared. Charles-Williams and Khan took the microphone together and read: 

“We see so much more, 
We know so much more, 
We ARE so much more.” 

With their first year complete, 25 stories are still being written.