How many people can say they were a Disney Cast Member before they were 21? Well, I'm one of those people. I worked in Disney World in Florida back in the spring and summer of 2014. The internship changed me into a different and better person. It also made me realize many things.
Disney is a wonderful place full of fantasy and imagination.
But working there was different than just being a guest at the resort. I was an attractions host at a popular ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios, and I loved my job. The job taught me how to communicate well with others and I got much better at public speaking. I had amazing friends who I met in a Facebook group. I thought we were going to be best friends forever, but, as the program progressed, I noticed things going downhill.
My friends became distant.
I was homesick, as it was my first time away from home and I realized how flawed I am as a 20 year old working at the most magical place on earth. As I was doing my internship, things motivated me to change certain aspects about myself, such as work ethic and motivation. Disney taught me that to get where you want to be, it's not all fun and games. Even while working for the most magical place on earth, I can honestly say that I hated my job for weeks on end.
I also noticed that Disney changes people in all different ways.
Those friends I had in the beginning met new people. That’s when I had a gut feeling that these new people they met were going to change the way my friends were. And, lo and behold, I do not speak to any of those original friends due to the fact they met other people, having their personalities change and them deciding to leave me in the pixie dust.
In that case, Disney taught me two more life lessons: follow your gut instinct and that people aren't always who they say they are.
Personally, I feel like there are more fake people down in Disney then there are in an average high school. Disney wants all of its workers to put a smile on and to be happy, even if they don’t want to be. People with facades are the majority down there, which is another thing I have learned.
The internship changed who I am as a person. I will never regret any of the decisions or people I met on my once in a lifetime internship. It’s just nice that it taught me things I can carry with me for the rest of my life. I will always be thankful for Disney giving me this opportunity to be able to say I worked for them.
