Ever since I was a little girl I dreamt of working at the most magical place on earth. I watched my sister complete her Disney College Program during her first semester of senior year with her boyfriend-turned-fiancé as a character performer in the fall of 2010 and wanted to do the exact same thing.
Fast forward to my sophomore year of college at Ball State University. I was filling out the application for fall 2015 on my laptop on a whim after receiving the email that applications had gone live. Later that afternoon I was taking the web-based and setting up phone interviews simultaneously.
Less than three weeks later, I was accepted.
As my arrival date of August 10th drew near, I became increasingly nervous. I was leaving my boyfriend of almost a year, my nephew of four months, and pretty much my entire life behind. To say I was irritable and crabby is an understatement as I accepted my fate of living in the worst housing apartment offered by Disney as well as a role in merchandise in one of the busiest areas of the parks: Main Street East in Disney's Magic Kingdom.
My mom left without saying goodbye after moving me in (this wasn't her fault, but bad planning due to a flight issue) and I said a tearful adieu to my beau early the next morning.
I attended Traditions and hoped for the best, but to no avail. I hated my work location, I wasn't making any friends, and my roommates had different days off than I. I was getting home at late hours, barely managing to sleep and eat. I lost 14 pounds in two months. It was terrible.
On a warm, September evening during a stock shift for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, I was informed my nephew was ill. I was driving home three days later, self-terming from my program.
Fast forward again a few months later and I was applying for yet another program. Accepted and excited, I ended up not going due to scheduling conflicts with my university.
On February 13, 2017, I made the decision to make a final attempt to apply for the Disney College Program. I had basically been offered a full-time position earlier that month, but when they found out I wasn't able to move until May, they gave the role to someone else.
All I wanted was to be back in Disney.
That Valentine's Day, I completed my phone interview, having skipped the web-based from previous applications. I answered the recruiter's questions confidently and felt as though I had aced it. Several pain-filled months later, I was waitlisted. Devastated didn't come close to how I felt.
Thankfully, on April 19, I was accepted. My role is merchandise, which is something I'm no stranger to. I auditioned my first program and my current one for character performer but unfortunately didn't make the cut. I'm not giving up hope, though, that one day I'll be able to portray a Disney character.
As for now, I'm planning my upcoming wedding, preparing to move permanently down to Florida, and anxiously awaiting my arrival date for the College Program. I'm excited and nervous and freaked out all in one, but my happiness to be going back to be a Cast Member cannot be matched.
I'm so thankful to have this opportunity to work at one of my favorite places in the entire world. I highly recommend the Disney College Program to any lover of Disney because it's an experience that can't be found anywhere else. To live and thrive and work in the place where dreams come true is a privilege and not everyone gets to experience it. I'm just lucky to have the chance to go for a whole semester this time.
Remember: If you can dream it, you can do it.
