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Balancing diverse foci

Over the course of 5 semesters, Alex applied for 90 co-op positions and had 18 interviews. During this time, he was also working on a lawsuit against his former high school, where he was advocating for the right to speak up on student hazing that he had witnessed. The stress of this experience, combined with balancing his UVic courseload, added an extra layer of complexity.

Working with the accessibility and inclusion co-op coordinator

After several terms, Alex connected with his career educator as well as with Niels Melis-de Lamper, UVic’s accessibility and inclusion co-op coordinator, to put together a plan. Together, they approached , a Victoria-based company whose products enhance safety and rider experiences at over 25,000 bus stops across North America, to propose an interview opportunity that let Alex demonstrate his qualifications. He was soon hired as a junior electrical engineer.

“Niels helped prepare me for interviews, stay on track during interviews and debrief afterwards. His presence made me more comfortable bringing things up, just like Karae White, the engineering career educator does,” says Alex.

Gaining hands-on experience

This collaborative approach led to Alex thriving in his co-op work term. “I chose UVic for its engineering co-op program and the likelihood of being hired right out of university,” says Alex. “Co-op is helping me discover which application of electrical engineering I'd like to pursue in regards to my future career.”

Championing accessibility and inclusion

Alex also helped employers like Urban Solar rethink their hiring and retention practices. The team requested a workshop from Niels to learn how to best support neurodivergent employees.

The team at Urban Solar were impressed with Alex’s dedication and out-of-the-box thinking.

“Working with and mentoring Alex was an inspiring experience,” says Graham Ball, engineering manager at Urban Solar. “He approached challenges with a unique and thoughtful perspective, often finding excitement in tasks others might overlook. His energy was contagious, and his contributions to team discussions helped us grow not just as engineers, but as collaborators. I'm deeply appreciative of the inclusivity and new ways of thinking that Alex brought to Urban Solar."

Engaging in community

For Alex, being an advocate and championing community comes naturally. The international student from Seattle, Washington sits on the executive team for the UVic Ballroom Latin and Swing Club () and plans to continue until he graduates. He is also on his third year with Salsa Caliente () as a member of their local team.

Next steps

Alex is currently applying for positions for his second work term—he’s applied to 24 positions and has had six interviews so far. This includes being one of the five students out of 700 who made it to the interview stage for a position with the . 

Learn more

• More about engineering co-op
• Learn more about
• Learn more about support available for students of all lived experiences
• How to hire a co-op student