When I first started my co-op experience at D2L, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was anxious, but I kept in my mind the same thoughts. “I can do this. I’ve had two other co-ops before. It can’t possibly be anything to stress about.” Lo and behold, it turns out there was no need to be nervous.
My experience at D2L has been nothing short of extraordinary. As someone who finds it difficult to come out of their shell at the best of times, the vast number of opportunities to connect with others in the company makes it so much easier. Being able to interact with other co-ops—something I hadn’t experienced in my other jobs before—made my time here that much better. The amount of support and cross-company bonding that D2L offers really helps to make me feel like I am accepted and supported in my role as both a co-op and new D2Ler.
As a content coordinator co-op with the proposals team, and in ramping up within my role over the past few months, I have found a little family among my small but mighty team that I take joy in seeing and chatting with every day. I organize the content within our
library to ensure that the proposal managers have the most up-to-date and
well-formatted information.
A day in the life with my team is everchanging, but I’ll give you a sneak peek into what it can be like day-to-day:
07:40: Wake up, feed my cat Persephone, and get ready for the day ahead. Commuting to HQ is easy, as there are light rail transit and bus stops nearby. Listening to music on my walk is essential, and I pretty much listen to something all day.
08:45: Arrive at HQ and say hello to my team. Your team can be a great support system for you, and you can be one in return. Don’t be scared to talk to them. I also begin planning my tasks for the day, writing them all down in my notebook. From big tasks to small things like “get a snack,” it’s all in there. Giving myself little accomplishments throughout the day helps make it motivating to continue with my lengthier ones.
09:00: Usually, if I bring lunch I’ll go put it in the fridge. If I ran out of time or didn’t have anything, I’m not too worried. The kitchens are stocked with food for all D2Lers. From tasty breakfast snacks to sweet treats, there are always things to munch on throughout the day. I usually grab some MadeGood Red Velvet Mini Cookies for later in the morning. However, if I’m feeling in the mood, I’ll make a coffee with the high-tech coffee bot. If I’m feeling really creative, I’ll make myself a pseudo-mocha using some of the flavored syrups and hot chocolate powder before adding in the coffee and milk.
09:30: My team will have weekly check-in meetings to make sure no one is feeling too overwhelmed or see if anyone needs to ask for help on a proposal response.
10:00: Get into heads-down work mode. There are a lot of things to update in our library system, and I will spend the morning doing one of a few tasks. Researching, updating, formatting—you name it, it’s on my list.
11:00: Meeting with my supervisor. We catch up a couple times a week to make sure we’re on the same page with library updates and we go over outstanding issues that need resolving. Even though we chat daily in-person and on Slack, we make sure to set time out of our schedules to formally discuss everything that needs a longer explanation or question. Communication is key.
12:05: Lunch time. For lunch I will hang out with the other co-ops in either the Wave Suite, Brightspace Kitchen or Innovation Lounge. This time is great to get to know fellow co-ops and take a well-earned break. It’s more than just networking, it’s a time to form lasting friends and connections, and a time I take full advantage of. It can be difficult to socialize in a brand-new place, but it’s good to remember that they’re likely new too and even that can be a starting point.
12:30–13:05: Back to the library work. After a great reset, it’s time to dive back into the library and continue researching and updating. I find after nourishment that I research the best, so I will typically go through our content to be sure it is up-to-date and correct for our proposal managers to use in responses.
13:30: I take an hour to book myself a single meeting room to change up my environment and be able to really hone-in on some work. I will usually go into Seed, Leaf, Petal or Sapling for my (what I call) “Focus Hour.” Typically, I’ll do some writing or editing and listen to instrumental music or LoFi to really get into the headspace. That’s exactly how I’m writing this blog.
14:30: Heading back to my desk, I will do a less strenuous task, likely checking and testing out formatting issues within our library system. I’ll also grab a snack from the kitchen to recharge after my hour of super-focus. I might also do a drawing or two on my whiteboard to help spruce up my pod. It is home for four months, after all.
16:45: Around now I’ll pack up, ready to go home and indulge in my hobbies. Sometimes I head to a café to grab a much-deserved treat at the end of the day. I take a look at my notebook and take in my accomplishments for the day, proud of the work I’ve done.
Here’s to a day in my life, though ever-changing and susceptible to spontaneity, it’s more than enjoyable to spend a day at D2L. Feel proud of your accomplishments no matter how small and embrace the connections you make. D2L is full of rich opportunities, so take them and strive to do your best.
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