A Richmond resident studying at Langara College was announced as the 2023 Co-op Student of the Year.
Nitika, a fourth-year business student, received the recognition on the National Day of Work-Integrated Learning, which is celebrated on the fourth Wednesday of March every year.
A co-op (Co-operative Education) allows students to alternate study semesters with paid work experiences to apply what they learn in classes in a real work environment.
“Co-op is an opportunity that should not be missed. With amazing mentors guiding you during this learning curve in your career, you are expanding your chances of success,” said Nitika.
“It's always hard to get that initial push or get your foot in the door and for me, co-op was the key to start your journey. Classrooms can’t always teach you the things you learn through co-op.”
The Richmond resident attended her first co-op experience as an event assistant with the non-profit organization Latincouver in the spring of 2023.
While her initial co-op term was four months, it was extended to eight months.
“I honestly was a little nervous in the beginning of my first co-op as I was going into a new environment and industry, but with patient mentors and supportive instructors, the process went very smoothly and I enjoyed every minute of it," said Nitika.
Since then, she has completed her third co-op term with Blackbird Security as a full-time recruiting assistant in the company's human resources team.
“The knowledge we can gain by being open to growing ourselves is an unforgettable takeaway I got through co-op," said Nitika.
"Even though my degree is in business management, I got to gain experience in event management and human resources, not to mention the countless other soft and technical skills I gained along the way.”
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