For some, stress can be isolating. For BCIT alumni couple Tarrah and Travis Prasad, an intensive five weeks of stress actually brought them together.
“We weren’t in a relationship at the time,” explains Travis, who graduated with Tarrah from the Broadcast and Online Journalism program in 2016. “On-campus classes were finished, and we both happened to be on our five-week practicum in Victoria.”
Tarrah was interning at CHEK News and Travis was an intern at CTV News Vancouver Island. They say they bonded through the fast-paced demands of their new roles.
“We ended up hanging out in Victoria every day after work,” shares Travis, adding that his first impression of Tarrah was that she was intelligent, talented, and beautiful. “Everything just seemed to click.”
Tarrah adds, “We were going through some stressful situations, as well as exciting experiences. It was a good test. From there, I just knew he was the person for me.”
This wouldn’t be the first time the couple would find a silver lining during a stressful time.
Navigating as new grads
After graduating from BCIT, the couple was looking for steady work in their area of study, but it was taking longer than expected.
“Things weren’t going as we planned,” shares Travis. “We chose not to get discouraged. Instead, we kept our journalism chops sharp by producing videos as freelancers.”
“It kept us busy and allowed us to improve our skills,” adds Tarrah. “Soon enough, we found jobs in the industry.”
Travis is now a reporter on Global News. In recent years, Tarrah, a former national-level competitive figure skater, switched from journalism to follow her passion for skating. She now manages operations and trains the next generation of competitive skaters at Cyclone Taylor Figure Skating.
In 2020, they made their love official. Travis surprised Tarrah with a proposal during a romantic weekend in Kelowna. They were married in May 2022 and are expecting a baby girl this spring.
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Advice for BCIT lovers
Why do so many students seem to fall in love at BCIT? Tarrah, who says Travis caught her attention with his humour, intelligence, and good looks, suggests that the specific programs seem to draw people with similar interests—at least it did for them.
“There’s a lot of group projects, so you end up spending more time together than at other post-secondary schools,” adds Travis, who loves Tarrah’s compassion for others.
To BCIT students navigating new love on campus, the couple says to make time for each other, despite the intense course load.
Scheduling weekly date nights amidst busy schedules, the couple believes that quality time is just as important now as alumni newlyweds.
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