Back in February I took a major step out of my comfort zone and applied for the Disney College Program. I cried in relief and joy when I was offered a phone interview, and my nerves and excitement were the only two things I could focus on for weeks. The interview came and went, and then my nerves went into hyper-drive once acceptances started coming out. Every day I woke up and frantically checked my email, wondering if today would be the day my “pending” status changed. Cue more tears and screaming when I finally received my, “Congratulations!” email and the excitement of telling everyone that I would be graduating early and moving to Disney. But now that my start date is only two months out (yikes), my excitement is slowly being overcome by nervousness and fear. I’m only two months away from making the biggest move of my life, one that could change the rest of my life, so I think it’s all right for me to be a little (a lot) nervous.
1. I’m nervous that my roommates and I won’t actually get along.
Sure, we’ve officially decided on each other and we have a lot in common. We message each other on Facebook and seem to be in that awkward “we get along okay, but still don’t really know how to talk to each other” phase. While I’m really excited to officially meet them, I’m also really nervous that we won’t get along. I had a roommate my freshman year of college, but for the past two years I’ve lived on my own. I’m afraid that I won’t be able to handle the drastic contrast of living alone in a one-bedroom apartment compared to the two-bedroom apartment and three roommates that awaits me at Disney. I’m also really nervous that I’ve set myself up too high in terms of roommate expectations. I’ve heard so much about DCPers becoming best-friend-soulmates with their roommates and either rooming together again for a future program or staying in close contact after it’s over. I really hope that this hasn’t been hyped up and that I haven’t psyched myself up too much for it. If it happens, it happens.
2. The long hours of being the CP at the bottom of the totem pole.
I’ve heard so many things about the hours that the DCP participants have to work and I don’t know if I’m ready for that. Now late night hours are nothing new to me — I worked as a waitress at a 24/7 diner for my first job — but the constant late nights, late night / early morning doubles, or the weekend and holiday scheduling that everyone has talked about makes it seem like we’ll never truly have another free moment outside of work again. However, I am excited to experience the park(s) at all different hours of the day and to see all the events that happen throughout the day.
3. Being so far from home.
As I said, I’ve lived alone for the past two years. And I do mean completely alone -- aside from my guinea pig. However, my parents and family were only a three hour drive away so I was able to spend breaks and long weekends back home during school, and they were able to drive down to spend a weekend with me every so often. Now though, I’ll be a three hour flight away from home. I won’t be able to hop in my car and drive if I want to come home — I’ll have to book a flight ticket. I’ve never been so far from home on my own for that length of time, and I’m terrified that I’ll snap under the stress of homesickness. My family and I are super close, and it was hard just leaving them when I started college (in the same state). Being several hours and several states away is already daunting and I really hope that I’ll be able to handle it once I’m there. This, more so than the rest, is what is really starting to stir up the butterflies in my stomach. However, I know that life is only what you make of it, so I’m determined to make the most out of this opportunity, however, it ends up going.
I really hope that I do become close friends with my roommates and that I can survive the scheduling. I also really hope that the magic of the parks, the call of the beach and the company of my roommates will help me keep my mind off of how far I am from home. The DCP is a fantastic opportunity, already full of the potential for exciting experiences, and I need to start focusing on that rather than all of the, “What if?” thoughts. Everyone that I’ve talked to has either said that they loved doing this program and that it was a wonderful experience, or that they’re jealous that I get to work at Disney World and upset that they have to wait to apply for the next round. I’ve been given a wonderful opportunity, and I refuse to let fear or nerves spoil that. Look out Disney — here I come!
