Diana and David Travia - BA in Justice Studies (BA-JUS)
When you are balancing an education with work, children and everyday life, it helps to have someone who understands.
For Bachelor of Arts in Justice Studies alumni Diana and David Travia that insight wasn't hard to come by. The Victoria-based couple graduated from the program in 2009 having undergone their studies in the same cohort. Their experiences with Royal Roads University allowed them to grow as individuals, and support each other as a team online and in the classroom.
It was Diana who first looked into the program, but upon seeing the course content she pitched the idea of doing it together as the pair worked to enhance their careers. That decision led them to the jobs they wanted and a profound shift in perspective about their own values.
"I went into the program as a means to an end, and upon reflection it was the journey that was the most rewarding," Diana says. "It is hard to identify any one aspect that made the biggest impact as my experiences together made it one of the most rewarding achievements of my life. It was greater than the sum of its parts. I am a different person."
The course work was challenging, but manageable, the pair agrees. The first residency was an opportunity to get acquainted with the university and the foundational courses provided the tools they needed to succeed in the online portion of the course, Diana says.
"The online model allowed me to achieve work life balance and learn on my own time. The face-to-face courses gave me the opportunities to make deeper connections with the cohort and the instructors, which contributed to my overall success in the program," she said. "The campus itself is a beautiful and peaceful environment conducive to learning."
"As you make your way through the program, you realize how well designed and comprehensive the curriculum is," David adds. "It comes together in the end, and you finish with an extensive set of practical skills applicable to range of work environments. "
The course work had a profound effect on how Diana approaches her work as a probation officer at Saanich Community Corrections.
"The philosophy courses altered how I understand the word 'justice' and how the meaning I attach to that word underpins much of my work as a probation officer," she says. "As a probation officer I meet with people from all walks of life who are in conflict with the law. Justice does not mean treating everyone equally; rather it means that every person is treated with dignity and with a consideration to his/her needs and circumstances. "
For David, he wouldn't have the job he has now as a policy analyst with the B.C. Ministry of Health without Royal Roads, but the experience was about more than that.
"At the outset, my motivation for taking the program was simply to get a better job," David says. "Ultimately, it was a life-altering accomplishment with a lot of personal learning involved. If you want more out of this program it's there for the taking."
