By: Amanda Burnett, Communications Officer
Caption: From left to right: Nathaniel Cato-Simms and Naiima Farah, Social Worker, Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement
Nathaniel Cato-Simms is one step closer to his dream as an auto mechanic through the Black Student Summer Leadership Program.
The Black Student Summer Leadership Program offered by the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement provides registrants with paid summer learning opportunities, mentorship and training. During the program, students are matched with a for-profit or not-for-profit organization, representing a variety of employment sectors, and relevant to the students’ field of interest. Students also receive guidance and skill development experiences from Graduation Coaches for Black Students, social workers and TDSB educators, and through their involvement in Youth Participatory Action Research.
TDSB student Nathaniel Cato-Simms was placed with JR Auto Care in Toronto. Through this experience, Nathaniel learned how to:
- Do an oil change;
- Full break job;
- Change the exhaust pipes;
- Patch and change tires;
- Change the alternator;
- Change the fan inside the car;
- Change light bulbs;
- Change break lines.
Nathaniel describes his work placement as a dream come true. First and foremost, he credits his mother for “all the hard work she put in when I told her I was interested in cars and that I one day wanted to join the automotive industry. She invested the time to make sure I was exposed to what I like,” says Nathaniel. He also credits his colleagues for his success and hands-on learning experiences. “My co-workers helped me out a lot. I learned from them, and they supported me. I was shy when I first started, and then I warmed up and they showed me steps for everything and now I am almost at 100%.”
Nathaniel just completed Grade 11 and is about to enter Grade 12. After he finishes high school, he plans to go to college and enroll in an auto mechanic program and then hopes to come back and do his apprenticeship at JR Auto Care. He believes this placement is perfect for him.
“You get the work experience to prepare you for the future and learn how to balance your life,” says Nathaniel. Some of the great things about the Black Student Summer Leadership Program are “being able to talk to different leaders and mentors and learning about the work they do and how they got to where they are.”
Nathaniel explains that he first heard about the program last year when he was in Gr. 10 through his Careers teacher. He enrolled right away and at that time due the pandemic the program was virtual, and he was placed with the Toronto Community Benefit Network. Through his first placement, he learned a lot about the skilled trades, the apprenticeship process and getting ready for his final test at the end. He feels that these experiences helped prepare him and set the groundwork for where he is now.
Nathaniel’s message for others who want to pursue this career path is to follow your dreams and that with great support anything is possible. In the past, people tried to place him in other trades such as electrical as they felt automotive would be too difficult to get in. But here he is. Nathaniel says, “Choose your own path and follow through.”
The Black Student Summer Leadership Program runs annually through the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement and is led by the Graduation Coaches for Black Students. Each spring, students apply for the program and go through an application and interview process and then are mentored, trained and placed with a range of organizations representing different career fields. Students are paid for their participation with funding provided by Focus on Youth. Self-identifying Black TDSB students from Gr. 10 to 12 are eligible to apply.
For more information about the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement, connect with us:
Email: cebsa@tdsb.on.ca
Instagram: @tdsb_cebsa
Twitter: @tdsb_cebsa