Royal Roads University

Beautiful Hatley Castle

I'm back at school. I decided to do a Master's degree since, really, everyone and their dog has a Bachelor's degree today and finding a job is quite difficult. After much deliberating, soul searching and hair pulling, I set my sights on a Master's of Professional Communication at Royal Roads. So far I am very happy.

The program is online which is convenient as it allows me the flexibility to live wherever I want. There are two residency periods for the whole two years and each one is three weeks long. I am, in fact, writing this from my dorm room at Royal Roads during residency number one in lieu of doing work.



Royal Roads University is situated on the stunning grounds of Hatley Park and smack in the middle of this park is Hatley Castle, a 100 year old (haunted) 15th century inspired castle. Surrounding this castle are carefully tended gardens inhabited by peacocks, rabbits, raccoons, Canada geese and massively obese squirrels. There are also countless trails through the surrounding gardens and forests, the most impressive of which is Charlie's Trail, a beautiful stroll revealing small waterfalls and massive felled trees. I'm sad that I don't get to spend more time here.

Tiny waterfall off Charlie's Way

Victoria itself is fantastic (well, the little of seen of it anyways). There are some great restaurants and shops as well as a beautiful harbor surrounded by unaffordable, elegant hotels. Oh to be rich.

Sadly, the beauty of this place is marred by the fact that it never stops raining. My dorm room provides a view of the ocean and a mountain range located in Washington, however, I have only managed to have glimpses of this amazing view since it is generally too cloudy to see anything but grey. Sadness.

New friends

I have one more week in residency and so far I am impressed with Royal Roads. The profs are fantastic, very knowledgeable and all able to provide real-world application for concepts learned. Engaging assignments provide motivation for learning, especially one entitled "The Communications Challenge" where, as a team, we examine a communication problem from a real organization and provide an anaylsis and solution. I've also met some fantastic people and learned a lot from them. And the best part: the raccoon family that nightly resides in the doorway of my dorm building. I love them.

The raccoons

So far, so good.