When I first stepped into the world of co-op placements as a Master’s student, I didn’t fully understand just how transformative the experience would be – for my academic path, my career aspirations, and perhaps most importantly, my sense of self.

Before beginning my PhD in Psychology (Social Psychology stream) at Memorial University in the fall of 2022, I completed both a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Honours, 2020) and a Master of Applied Psychological Science (MAPS, 2022), a co-op-based graduate program that would unexpectedly become a cornerstone of my journey. It was during the MAPS program that I completed two co-op placements with Food First NL; a non-profit organization committed to advancing the right to food across Newfoundland and Labrador. That experience not only launched my professional development – it reshaped how I viewed my capabilities and changed my personal worldview.

A Professional Turning Point

Reflecting on my time at Food First NL, the professional growth I experienced is undeniable. I was trusted with designing surveys and interview protocols rooted in real-world needs – tasks that took my academic understanding of data collection and grounded it in lived community experience. While I had studied research methods in class, the placements provided the applied context that textbooks never could.

Knowing I had limited background in program evaluation (a central pillar of the MAPS program), I dove into independent learning to ensure I could meaningfully deliver on the tasks assigned to me. This self-directed effort affirmed my passion for research and revealed it as a strength I could build a career around.

In addition to evaluation, I analyzed quantitative data, themed qualitative feedback, wrote reports, and led a mini research project on the relationship between food insecurity and eating disorder pathology. Presenting those findings to my team was a defining moment – translating complex information into actionable insights and receiving professional validation in return.

Report writing was an area where I felt naturally confident, but hearing my colleagues describe my work as polished and insightful gave that confidence new weight. Sometimes, we only recognize our strengths when others reflect them back to us.

The placements also pushed me to develop my communication and collaboration skills. As someone who often worked independently in undergrad – and who has long struggled with social anxiety – adapting to team-based work was challenging but rewarding. The virtual workplace became a space where I could grow into these new dynamics. The support, encouragement, and consistent positive feedback I received from my supervisor and team helped shift my internal narrative: I wasn’t just a student – I was a professional.

Facing Imposter Syndrome Head-On

Despite these achievements, my co-op journey began with a heavy dose of imposter syndrome. I had always performed well academically, but this was unfamiliar terrain: real job responsibilities, team expectations, and no clear roadmap. I doubted whether I truly belonged. Whether I was ready. Whether I could deliver.

The truth is, I was ready. But it took showing up every day with a willingness to learn that helped me slowly silence that inner doubt. I researched what I didn’t know, asked questions, took notes, and embraced the idea that growth often feels uncomfortable at first. Over time, that fear turned into confidence. The more I did, the more I learned, and the more capable I felt.

From Zoom Presentations to National Stages

Public speaking was once my greatest fear – a trigger for the worst of my anxiety. Ironically, as a result of the pandemic, the virtual format of my co-op and MAPS course presentations became the ideal training ground. Giving presentations over Zoom gave me a controlled, comfortable space to build my communication and public speaking skills. It helped me learn to slow down, stay grounded, and connect with my audience – skills that proved essential as I moved into my PhD program.

Since then, I’ve presented at national and international conferences, including winning Best Data Blitz Student Presentation at the American Psychology-Law Society’s Annual Conference in Philadelphia (2023), and participating in an invited symposium on Suspect Interviewing and Confession Evidence earlier this year. This June, I’ll be presenting two talks at the Canadian Psychological Association’s Annual Convention right here in St. John’s.

Truthfully, none of this would have felt possible during my first co-op term. But that experience gave me the space – and support – to grow into someone capable of standing on those stages.

A Shift in Perspective: Personal Reflections

Personally, my placements with Food First NL were transformative in unexpected ways. Before starting, I had little awareness of what food security meant, or the systemic injustices that surround it. Learning that Newfoundland and Labrador has one of the highest rates of food insecurity in Canada was a powerful wake-up call. Having grown up in a food-secure household, I was suddenly confronted with the realities many face daily – and my own privilege in relation to them.

Being part of a mission-driven non-profit helped me understand that careers can, and perhaps should, serve the greater good. Exposure to topics like Indigenous rights and systemic inequities opened my eyes to the broader contexts in which psychological research and community work intersect. I left the placement feeling more informed, more empathetic, and more committed to becoming an advocate for change.

A particularly meaningful moment came at the end of my placement, when I was gifted a book on Indigenous wisdom and the teachings of plants. It wasn’t just a thank-you – it was an invitation to keep learning. Without this experience, I may never have reached for that book on my own.

Most of all, the experience helped me grow into a more confident and self-assured person. Feedback from my team, new friendships, and success in unfamiliar territory all helped me rebuild areas where I once doubted myself – particularly my interpersonal skills. This work term helped me see that I can build strong relationships, contribute meaningfully, and step into spaces that once felt out of reach. Now, let it be known that I am still a work in progress, and self-doubt occasionally creeps in – but this experience showed me that those feelings are temporary and do not define my abilities.

Advice for Students: Progress Over Perfection

If you’re starting your first co-op or struggling with self-doubt, here’s what I’ve learned:

  1. Fake it until you make it. Confidence isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about trusting your ability to figure things out.
  2. Be honest. Admitting you don’t know something is the first step to learning it.
  3. Give yourself grace. Growth is incremental; trust the process and celebrate progress, not perfection.
  4. Be open to feedback. It’s how you refine your skills and recognize your strengths.

Keep showing up. Every day is an opportunity to learn something new about your field, your role, and yourself. Remember, progress happens in the doing, not the waiting

The difference in how I felt between starting my master’s and starting my PhD was remarkable. When I entered the MAPS program, I was full of questions – about my abilities, about whether I belonged, about where I was headed. By the time I began my doctoral studies, those questions hadn’t disappeared entirely – but they were quieter, steadier, softened by a sense of purpose and self-belief I hadn’t known before.

Yes, the co-op program gave me professional experience. But more than that, it gave me a mirror: a chance to see what I was capable of when given the right support, the right challenges, and the space to grow. That’s the lasting power of co-op. It doesn’t just prepare you for the next step – it reshapes how you see yourself when you take it.