OYAP Starting off Strong at LCH
The Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) is a specialized program in high school that allows students to explore apprenticeship and count High School Co-op hours toward Apprentice hour requirements. Up until 2021, Ontario Private school students were not able to participate in this program, and the change in legislation that has allowed our students to access this program has opened doors of opportunity for London Christian High students.
Libby Vandekemp is the first LCH student to participate in OYAP. Libby chose a Co-op placement at HydraDyne Technologies in Ingersoll, where she works on the floor as a machinist, building world-class custom hydraulic components for heavy equipment manufacturing. Libby’s enthusiasm for her learning at HydraDyne was encouraging to her supervisors, and they have committed to cross training her on multiple specialties on the floor, which is unusual. This has made Libby flexible to work in various areas in the plant, enabling her to help out wherever there is extra work to be done or special help needed.
It is Libby’s hope to go into an official apprenticeship with HydraDyne after she graduates high school in June. “I loved this Co-op. It has opened up so many doors and opportunities for my future. OYAP has given me a head start on my schooling and has really made this experience feel super useful.”
Student Insight:
Hi, I’m Libby Van de Kemp and I did my Co-op at HydraDyne Technology. I’m going to Fanshawe College for Precision Machining and Tooling through the Ontario College of Trades. This was a two credit Co-op that I started in September and ended in January. I was very excited and nervous at the same time for this placement, because it is a male dominated field. I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to do the work and that I wasn’t strong enough. In the end, I found out there’s always a way around obstacles. There’s always a different way to do something.
Someone who has inspired me to take this pathway is my dad. He is also a machinist/manager at HydraDyne. I would always ask questions about his work when I was young, and I’ve always been super interested in the trade. I also have been exposed to machines since a young age, because my dad would take me to work on Saturdays, and we have machines at home that I would work on.
Something I struggled with at HydraDyne was time management. I was very busy with sports, school, working extra hours at Co-op, and working on the farm every night. Gas was also not cheap so that was another one of my struggles. Something that I have developed was my mindset on how to overcome issues that have occurred at work. I’ve improved on being independent at Co-op and troubleshooting things by myself. In the end, I have learned that I have to take one task at a time. Secondly, I’ve learned that there’s no need to rush. Finally, you can’t make everything perfect. No matter how much time you put into the part, there will always be a flaw.
This Co-op has helped me prepare for my future, and has cleared a more distinct pathway for me. I have learned so much, and I appreciate all the mentors that have helped and guided me through it.
