Advice from a ‘Witcher’: What alumnus Doug Cockle wants you to know

Before he became the voice of Geralt of Rivia, the sardonic protagonist of “The Witcher” series of fantasy action role-playing games, Doug Cockle was a student studying theatre arts in Virginia Tech's School of Performing Arts, now part of College of Architecture, Arts, and Design.

“The Witcher” was developed by CD Projekt Red and is based on the book series by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski. A cult-classic until it wasn’t, “The Witcher” is both critically acclaimed and commercially successful.

Now based in the United Kingdom, Cockle returned to Blacksburg in August with his wife, Marianne, in between comic conventions in Roanoke and Kingsport, Tennessee.

When asked what advice he would give Virginia Tech students today, he was quick to answer.

“I’d say take classes that are outside of your major and outside of your comfort zone," Cockle said "It’s astonishing to me that some of the humanities courses I took on a whim are subjects that I draw from in my acting work. And it widens your horizons, exposes you to different people, and leads you to interests that you may never have found otherwise.”

He is also a big fan of the area surrounding Blacksburg.

“Look around you and take in the beauty and nature that surrounds Virginia Tech. There’s so much to love about this area, and your time here is fleeting. Many students come here at the age of 18, and when they leave at 22, they’ve had such an intense and immense time of growth and learning. When I was a student here, we were all in such a rush to graduate and start our lives but try to take time to enjoy being a student. Enjoy this brief moment in your life! Be in the moment, and be present, and savor this time.”