From Quiet to Confident
A few months ago, Liam wouldn’t have volunteered to speak in front of a room full of principals.
Recently, he did exactly that and had them laughing within minutes.
That’s the kind of growth you notice.
Finding His Place
At the start of the school year, Liam was quiet. Thoughtful, reserved, still figuring out where he fit.
Since September 2025, he has been completing his co-op placement at the Ottawa Catholic School Board’s Board Office, working in the kitchen preparing meals for the Caldwell Family Centre’s Food Bank and supporting catering for OCSB events.
Somewhere along the way, Liam found his niche.
A Moment That Mattered
During a recent professional development day, Liam was invited to share his experience briefly.
It wasn’t meant to be a big moment. Just a short introduction.
But it became one.
With calm confidence and a natural ease, Liam spoke about his work, what he’s learned, and the care that goes into preparing inclusive meals. Within minutes, the room shifted. People were listening. Smiling. Laughing.
It was simple, genuine, and memorable.
More Than a Co-op Student
At the Board Office, Liam is known for more than his work.
He is kind. He has a quiet sense of humour. He has built real relationships with staff, including a few on-going inside jokes with senior team members.
He shows up, does the work, and makes the space better just by being in it.
That matters.
Work with Purpose
Through his placement, Liam has seen firsthand how food brings people together.
The meals he helps prepare support the Caldwell Family Centre, an organization committed to reducing the impact of poverty in Ottawa and ensuring people are treated with dignity.
Each day, those meals reach children, families, and seniors across the city.
Liam understands that. And he takes pride in it.
Learning That Sticks
Co-op at OCSB is about more than earning credits.
It’s about trust. Responsibility. Mentorship. And giving students the chance to discover what they’re capable of in a real environment.
For Liam, it meant finding confidence not all at once, but slowly, through routine, relationships, and doing something that matters.
A Place to Grow
Liam’s story is a reminder that confidence doesn’t always show up loudly.
Sometimes, it builds quietly in the background until one day, you realize it’s been there all along.
Co-op helped Liam find that.
Interested in Supporting Student Growth Through Co-op?
OCSB is always looking for community partners to provide meaningful cooperative education placements. If your organization could benefit from an extra set of hands while helping a student grow skills, confidence, and future pathways, we would love to hear from you.
To offer a cooperative education placement, please contact
Jennifer Wood, Cooperative Education and Technological Education Consultant
Jennifer.Wood@ocsb.ca
Businesses in the skilled trades interested in apprenticeships can contact
Brett Jewitt, OYAP Recruiter
Brett.Jewitt@ocsb.ca
Because when students find what they love, confidence follows.
