Geoscience alum Andrea Čanković is putting her VIU skills to work
Andrea Čanković credits the Vancouver Island University community, including five years of playing on the VIU Mariners women’s volleyball team, with helping her come out of her shell. The Geoscience graduate came to VIU from Croatia as an international student determined to overcome language barriers and fulfill her education goals.
“Early in my life, my parents emphasized the importance of getting an education and I knew in my mind that was the way to go for me,” she says. “Sports was a way to achieve my education, and education was the right way to achieve my career goals. It takes a lot of discipline at the time, but it does pay off in the long run.”
Andrea is now working as a wellsite geologist and exploring the province’s more remote locations. We caught up with her to learn about her time at VIU and where she is now.
Why did you choose VIU for your education?
I was looking for a school that has it all but isn’t a big university where you are just a number in the system. At VIU, you get your education and there are lots of sports and work opportunities. It’s a great community where you feel supported at all times.
Tell us a bit about your experience at VIU and in your program.
I spent five years at VIU as a Geoscience student and a varsity volleyball player. At first, I was very reserved and struggled to even speak English. After years of hard work and many ups and downs, it ended with a Geoscience degree and being a part of a team that won four national championships.
Were there any unexpected benefits you discovered after becoming a student?
Coming to VIU as an international student, one benefit was how easy it was to find a second family away from home, and this is coming from a not-so-social person! Sports sure helped and I encourage everyone to check out the awesome athletics and recreation programs, it’s a great place to start. And if sports aren’t your thing, there’s always some activity hosted by the students’ union or events at the student pub.
How did your program prepare you for your current role in the workforce?
Geoscience is a broad and multidisciplinary field, meaning it’s a challenge to prepare students for the workforce. VIU’s program gave us a broad spectrum of knowledge both inside the classroom and outside in the field. When I first started working in mineral exploration, I became aware of how much the program emphasized hands-on field work more than many other bigger universities in Canada. It was helpful to be part of smaller classes where we were able to have good communication with the professors and with each other through team-based learning. Ability to work with others and good communication are valuable skillsets in the workforce.
Can you share a highlight of your VIU experience?
For me the whole university worked as a team to make an impact in all aspects of the learning experience. The Geoscience team: Tim Stokes, Jerome Lesemann, Sandra Johnstone and Gerri McEwen together provided an incredible amount of knowledge and support, which I needed due to my commitment to sports and because I worked. Shane and Danielle Hyde made my whole experience at VIU possible, not just through sports but also by teaching me valuable life lessons.
What are you most proud of since completing your program at VIU?
I continue to use all the tools I acquired during my time at VIU. Whether that’s staying active, looking for ways to gain more experience at work, multi-tasking and always being open to new experiences. There’s always something new to learn to better yourself.
What advice would you give VIU students following a similar trajectory as yourself?
First piece of advice I would give is to be stubborn and believe that you can do it all at university. You can get a good education, you can play sports, you can have a job and you can have fun in between. VIU is a perfect place for people who love being out in nature, rain or shine. The second piece of advice is to recognize when not to be stubborn and use the supports and services at VIU. It took me way too long to come out of my shell and accept this, so don’t make the same mistake!
What’s next for you?
I recently started a new position as a wellsite geologist with Chinook Consulting, so my next step is to gain more experience in the oil and gas industry through work on different projects. I am always on the hunt for the next awesome remote location to travel to.
