Gordon Skocic is graduating this June with a Bachelor of Science, major in Biology and minor in Chemistry. He is a co-valedictorian for the faculty of Science and Technology, sharing the honour with fellow Bachelor of Science grad Baneesha Gill.
Gordon is planning to take a gap year after graduation to figure out what he would like study in the future, but he is thinking of pursuing a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology. As part of our series highlighting VIU’s 2022 valedictorians leading up to convocation on June 23 and 24, we caught up with Gordon to learn why he decided to attend VIU, some highlights from his time here and his proudest achievement.
Why did you choose VIU?
I chose to go to VIU because of the smaller class sizes and to also make a connection with the professors who care about teaching and care about who you are as an individual.
Can you share a highlight from your time at VIU?
All my highlights at VIU involve laughing with students and professors during lectures. My whole organic chemistry class laughed at a joke that our professor made, where he said that the name of the chemical compound, Norbornane, would be a beautiful name for a girl. I think the funny thing about this is how random it was.
What are you most proud of achieving since you began your studies?
I’m most proud of the fact that I and many other students are resilient in the face of adversity, and those who graduate are dedicated and hardworking individuals. I am proud of myself for completing a program that is so challenging.
Can you give us three random facts about yourself?
- I was born in South Africa and I have lived there for more than half of my life.
- I love dinosaurs and my favourite dinosaur is the stegosaurus.
- Last summer, I averaged about one ice cream cone per week, with chocolate ice cream being my favourite flavour.
What is one thing your fellow students may remember about you after graduation?
I think many in our cohort will remember the time we all spent talking and laughing in the biology study room, known colloquially as the “Fishbowl.”
What advice would you give students following a similar trajectory as yourself?
University is a time to find yourself and your interests. There are so many options to go into biology, but if you approach this degree with an open mind and a willingness to learn, you will find a fit in biology that’s right for you.
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