The Disney College Program means many things to me. It means happiness, sadness, fear, excitement, and frustration. I moved away from everything I know and love for five months to work for one of the largest companies in the world in one of the biggest tourist destinations in America. I lived with five girls I had only met through video chat and messaging. I started a new job where I knew almost nothing--working retail at Target is nothing compared to working merchandise in Epcot. I learned more about myself than I ever imagined I would by doing all of these things.

I learned that there is always room for one more. No, I'm not talking about the 999 happy haunts of the Haunted Mansion. There is always room for someone new in your life. I left home expecting to make friends with my roommates and maybe a couple of people outside of them if I was lucky. By the end of my program, I had an amazing group of friends that seemed to always be growing. I luckily became best friends with my roommates, but I also had a solid group of people outside of them that I knew I could turn to if I was having a bad day. There was always someone to hang out with. I've tried to carry this over into my life since doing the program, and I've realized that being open to new people wherever I can meet them is an amazing thing. Unfortunately, Transtar drivers always seemed to think this way as well; even with 70 people packed onto the bus leaving Epcot, there was always room for one more.

I learned that patience is one of the best tools you can have in any situation. Whether I was waiting in line for a ride, waiting for a bus, or helping a guest who doesn't speak English, patience was always what got me through it. There are many frustrations that people deal with on a daily basis; I'll be the first to admit that I don't usually react well when I have to be patient. The Disney College Program taught me that I need to be patient for the sake of myself and for others. Having to physically pick out someone's change from their hand because they don't understand American money was kind of annoying at first, but by the end of the program I was always doing it with a smile. Once I realized how grateful guests were that I was willing to put up with their lack of knowledge about American money, I saw the value of patience. Patience when waiting for rides is still a work in progress, but we can't all be perfect.

I learned that taking a leap into the unknown can bring amazing things. Challenging the fears that come along with new experiences is a part of learning, and even if my program experience hadn't been as positive as it was, I would have learned a lot simply by taking the leap. I moved 1,000 miles from home without knowing if I would even have what it takes to survive the program. Many people self term because they can't handle the long hours in the Florida heat, or because they just aren't happy. On check in day, I felt so sure of my decision, but I was worried that I wouldn't be able to handle everything I was about to experience.The last day of my program was one of the strangest days of my life. It was a weird mix of happy and sad, I had the feeling of completing a goal yet I felt there was so much I hadn't done yet. If I hadn't decided to apply to the program or accept my offer, I would be missing out on so many life experiences. I wouldn't have the friends that I now have all across the country. I wouldn't have experienced the happiness I had while living out my dream.

I learned how to be selfless. Many of the guests I encountered were probably the most stressed out people I've ever seen. They were trying to make their vacation the most amazing experience possible, and there was a lot of pressure on my shoulders to help them out. I learned to put these people first, because as difficult as they can be, they're only there for a week or so. I got to live and breathe Disney World for months. If I could make their day even a bit better, their vacation could be looked back on with happiness. So I made the magical moments, taught people about the ways to get the most out of their vacation, listened to the guests who needed to vent. I was there for them and doing things that gave me a lesson I'll never forget.

I learned that magic truly does exist. It isn't magic like in Disney movies, but it's in the silence right as the fireworks begin for the night. It's the smile on someone's face when they meet their favorite character. It's in the cheers that erupt when Mickey appears at the beginning of "Fantasmic." It's in every single picture I have ever taken of Cinderella Castle. It's in the tears of every Disney College Program participant as they watch "Wishes" for the last time. I felt it when I held hands with my roommates sitting on the grass of the Hub watching our last Kiss Goodnight. One day I decided to do Parade Audience Control for the Festival of Fantasy parade at Magic Kingdom. I met a family from Boston who were about to watch the parade for the first time, and I told them to find me afterward and tell me how they felt about it. When they came up to me afterwards, I saw magic in the eyes and smile of the father who loudly exclaimed, "That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen." I believe in magic because I moved to Florida to work for a mouse, and I couldn't be more grateful for how it has changed my life.