Want to know some extra perks of studying at the Canadian College of Performing Arts? Here are five extra benefits that I had no idea about, but that drastically made my life better.
Choosing the right Performing Arts college can be daunting, especially when you’re researching every school in Canada. I know I spent countless nights pouring over websites trying to make the best decision for myself.
As a second-year student in the Diploma program at the Canadian College of Performing Arts, I can confidently say that I made the right choice. I’ll be graduating in a few months and I can tell you this has been the most life-changing journey of my life thus far. Not only does the school offer an excellent education, but there are also some great perks that I had no idea about. Here are a few of the benefits that I’ve discovered and how they’ve drastically improved my life.
- Connecting to nature and living in one of the most beautiful cities in Canada
- Developing grit and self-discipline
- Developing a strong self-care routine
- The incredible friends I made
- Seeing the positive in every challenge and seeing every challenge as an opportunity
I hope this gives you a better idea of what CCPA is all about, and why it could be the perfect school for you. Good luck with your decision!
This post is all about the benefits of studying at the Canadian College of Performing Arts.
1- You will live in one of the most beautiful cities in Canada
When I was researching schools, I had no idea that CCPA was so close to the ocean – it’s just a five-minute walk away! This is one of the most underrated benefits of studying here, especially coming from Montreal where heavy winters with snowstorms and temperatures reaching -30°C are the norm. Just the other day I was walking along Dallas Road and it was 10°C – I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming! Of course, it’s not always sunny here. It does rain, and the temperature usually sits around 5°C in the winter, but that gives the place an otherworldly atmosphere – I’m a huge Twilight fan and it feels like Victoria is giving me Forks vibes (sidenote: you should watch Twilight again, it’ll absolutely romanticize the rain and make it that much more enjoyable). Plus, fun fact, Twilight was partly filmed on Vancouver Island!
But all jokes aside, CCPA is a very demanding school, and I’ve found the environment here incredibly supportive of my learning. It’s no surprise that nature can have incredible benefits on your mental health. Willow’s beach is the closest beach to school, but my absolute favourite place in Victoria is Dallas Road. It’s actually hands down one of my favourite places on Earth. With its 10km dog trail, it’s the perfect place for a peaceful walk to clear your mind and leave feeling calmer and with a greater sense of purpose. It’s a great way to get inspired, and I can highly recommend it to anyone looking for a soothing experience.
2- You will develop grit and self-discipline
As a Year 2 student, I’ve realized how many limiting beliefs I had before coming here. For instance, I used to think that people were either “singers” or they weren’t – a skill I thought couldn’t be learned. But my peers have proven me wrong, and I’ve learned how much we can accomplish with hard work and dedication.
This has been one of the most valuable lessons. One of the biggest misconceptions is that discipline is something you either have or don’t have. But I’ve realized that it’s a skill you develop. I know this first hand. When I was in high school, I’d always wait for the “perfect moment” to get started on things. I’d need a whole 4-hour block to get things done. But this school has challenged that because time is so scarce.
In singing lessons, our teachers always remind us that it’s much better to practice for 10-15 minutes every day than to try and cram an hour and a half in on the weekend. That was a hard concept for me to get used to, and I’m definitely not perfect at it. But I’m getting better because when it comes to things that really matter, no one else is going to be there to push you to do them. No one else is going to write your first book or make you run a marathon or learn the violin – it’s up to you. You’ll need to find the motivation to do these things for yourself. If you can learn to be disciplined, it will make reaching your goals much easier! This is an invaluable lesson that I will carry with me throughout my life. Over the summer, I read “Atomic Habits” by James Clear and he pointed out that people tend to overestimate what they can do in a day and underestimate what they can do in a year. This quote perfectly summarizes one of the key lessons we can take away from the CCPA program. By developing a strong sense of discipline, we can make significant strides toward achieving our goals.
3- You will develop a strong self-care routine
Studying at the Canadian College of Performing Arts has been an incredible learning experience. As you know, the program is incredibly demanding. Along the way, I’ve developed so many skills that help me take care of myself – and it all started with the five love languages. Physical touch, words of affirmation, quality time, gifts and acts of service – by understanding these and applying them to our own lives, we can show ourselves more love and care. You might be familiar with these in terms of relationships, but they are a great tool to better take care of ourselves. For instance, if you value words of affirmation, you could show yourself love by reading a book you love, or journaling. If you love physical touch, you could go for a run!
Showing myself love while studying at the Canadian College of Performing Arts is something I cherish. Here are some of the ways I do it:
Physical touch: I love going to acupuncture at Hemma (it’s community-based and you can pay as little as 25$!), or a massage at the Victoria Academy of Massage. I’m also a fan of hitting up the Oak Bay Rec Centre, and lounging in the baby pool, hot tub, steam room or sauna.
Words of affirmation: I use a vision board to visualize my goals, and I also make sure to journal my thoughts and feelings. I often call a loved one to share my heart with them.
Quality time: Going for long walks by the ocean, giving myself the gift of fully being present and mindful in class.
Acts of service: I take care of myself by meal prepping, going to bed early, doing my laundry, shopping for groceries, and eating healthy. I always try and practice my dances consistently and work on my goals.
Gifts: Although I’m on a tight budget, I still make sure to occasionally treat myself to something special from tap and toes. I love buying myself ballet core, like leotards and leg warmers – dance shops make me so happy!
2- You will make life-long friendships
Starting this program, I felt confident in my academic credentials, but I was uncertain about the friendships I would make. After all, many of the other students had recently graduated from high school and I had recently graduated from university – what could we possibly have in common? I couldn’t have been more wrong. Through the program, I have formed lifelong relationships with the most amazing people I have ever met. We share our joys and sorrows, our successes and failures – and each one of us has gained so much insight and understanding along the way. In the end, I can confidently say I have made lifelong friends while studying here.
5- Seeing the positive in every challenge and seeing every challenge as an opportunity
This point could be an entire blog post in itself as it touches many elements but I thought it would be noteworthy to touch on. While studying at CCPA you will of course learn great techniques as a performer, but you will also develop great life skills. Many of us studying here are far away from home and many of us are juggling a very tight budget. Needless to say, this is challenging, but I’ve also found it to have a silver lining.
There are so many Friday nights when I ate lentils and rice for dinner, but it’s on those same nights of despair that so many beautiful things happened. There’s this quote I love from Tony Robbins that says “If you want to take the island you need to burn the boats”. To me, it means that sometimes, to get to where you want to go, you need to let go of the prior version of yourself.
“If you want to take the island you need to burn the boats.” —Tony Robbins
Is it hard learning how to manage your finances? Yes.
Is it hard to feed yourself 3 times per day? Yes.
It is hard to be far away from friends & family? Yes.
Is it hard being at school 60 hours a week? Yes.
Are there days when you will be tired and burned out? Yes.
But you need to know that, that’s also part of the process. Learning how to navigate life when your exhausting is just as valuable as what we learn in technique class. It’s all part of it. It’s like when Michael A. Singer says that the absolute best time to meditate is when you don’t want to. That’s where the value is.
Diamonds are made from pressure. It’s only when we are pushed to our limits, that we can see what we’re actually capable of. You don’t know if you will sink or swim unless to take the jump.
Here are a few lessons that came from challenges this year
The challenge: Not having any money or time to work during your time in school.
The skill acquired: I learned how to budget and I now use the envelope system.
The challenge: Feeding yourself 3 times per day.
The skill acquired: Learning what your body needs to sustain a 12-hour day. Learning how to save on groceries and how to meal prep.
The challenge: CCPA is a small school that doesn’t have all the amenities that a bigger university would have
The skill acquired: Learning the lesson of an empty space. You don’t need all the bells and whistles.
The challenge: Being far away from your friends and family.
The skill acquired: You learn how to be alone. I’ve even developed closer bonds being far away from my family. See who your real friends are.
The challenge: Dancing 5 days per week, dealing with soreness and injury
The skill acquired: How to take care of yourself
The challenge: Strict dress code
The skill acquired: Buy fewer, but better quality clothing.
The challenge: Not having enough time for yourself
The skill acquired: Learning how to make time for yourself, even when there isn’t.
As in many things in life, beauty is in the struggle. The solution is in the fight. There is always a lesson we can learn, no matter the challenge. You might not expect this when coming to study at the Canadian College of Performing Arts, but these are all things you will acquire.
These were all of the not-so-obvious benefits that I’ve seen in my life ever since studying at the Canadian College of Performing Arts. From the beautiful scenery, to the friends you will make, to learning self-mastery, to self-care, to finding beauty in the struggle. I am graduating in a few months and I’m truly so grateful for everything I’ve learned here. It was by far the best investment I’ve ever made in my life. If you would like to apply, go to ccpacanada.com/apply
This post was all about the not-so-obvious benefits of studying at the Canadian College of Performing Arts.