In the summer of 2023, Sarthak Sahai found himself in a most unexpected place: standing 93 metres up in the air on the highest track of the Leviathan, Canada’s tallest roller coaster.
This might sound like the stunt of a thrill seeker, but it was just another day at work for Sahai in his role as a ride engineering intern at Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughan.
For the space engineering student, the unusual co-op work term offered an exciting way to apply and develop what he learned at York University.
“In school, we learn about mechanical design, forces, safety factors and how systems behave on paper, but seeing those ideas come to life on a full-scale roller coaster like Leviathan made everything click,” says Sahai, a fourth-year student at the Lassonde School of Engineering.
During eight months as a paid co-op student working on the rides maintenance mechanical team, Sahai was responsible for upkeep of both the Leviathan and Vortex roller coasters as well as some smaller rides. His work involved checking the functionality of mechanical components such as bolts, panels, sensors and restraints, and making needed repairs. Sahai says a highlight was helping to redesign, fabricate and install safety components for the rides.
“Seeing something I worked on being used on a major roller coaster was a huge moment for me,” Sahai says. “It made the whole experience feel real and showed me that even as a student, my work could have a meaningful impact.”
The role helped him develop technical expertise and improve teamwork and administrative skills. Sahai says the experience translates well to in-class studies, where he is learning about designing, manufacturing and testing space equipment such as satellites, rovers and rockets.
More importantly, the co-op gave him confidence in his abilities.
“Working in the amusement ride industry showed me how much engineering goes into creating experiences that are both thrilling and completely safe,” Sahai says. “I hope to continue contributing ideas that make technology safer and more accessible for everyone.”
Fatimah Mufti is also taking a creative approach to work-integrated learning experiences.
A student in the Bachelor of Arts in Law & Society program, Mufti plans to be a lawyer – a decision influenced by her long-time interest in true-crime documentaries. But, when it came time to choose co-op work terms, she saw wisdom in exploring options outside of the law.
“I determined that I’m going to do something that I completely don’t expect myself to be doing to get out of my comfort zone,” says Mufti, a fourth-year student in the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS).
Her first co-op in September of 2024 was an eight-month paid role as a research analyst at the Ministry of Infrastructure in the Ontario government, where she conducted risk assessments, technical research and data visualization for a variety of projects.
For her second work term that began last fall, Mufti pursued another position outside of the legal field and joined ventureLAB, a technology non-profit in Markham that helps hardware and software startups expand globally. The opportunity was supported by the Infuse Program, offered through LA&PS in collaboration with TECHNATION. The program provides funding for employers to hire co-op students from liberal arts disciples into tech-adjacent roles.
Working as a member of the external relations team, Mufti is involved in everything from presenting to business leaders on the organization’s services, to using Salesforce software to support customer engagement, to taking minutes at leadership meetings.
“This role helped me see myself as someone who can operate at the intersection of business and technology, which I never envisioned for myself,” Mufti says. “I am learning how to navigate fast-paced projects, analyze data and improve my public speaking skills. I’m also forming so many useful connections.”
Mufti says it has been illuminating to observe the intensity of the work environment at ventureLAB, which operates six programs that help 100 ventures annually with raising capital, retaining talent, commercializing products and acquiring customers. She says colleagues value her contributions and encourage her to share her ideas.
“My professional identity has evolved from thinking of myself mainly as a student to seeing myself as a contributor who can support decision-making,” Mufti says.
Mufti is preparing to apply to law school in Fall 2026 and hopes to study at Osgoode Hall Law School. Her co-op experiences, she says, will serve her well on her career path.
“I’ve gained a lot of hands-on experience that has built my confidence and showed me the skills I need to succeed in a professional environment,” she says.
With files from Sharon Aschaiek