For the past seven months, one of my closest friends has been working at Disney World. When she told me that she had applied to the Disney College Program and had heard back so quickly, I was super excited. She has always loved Disney, and I knew this would be an amazing experience for her. She would be moving to Florida by herself and working her dream job. I knew this would be both something that she loved and something that she grew from. I felt bad for her when she had to move back because I knew she would miss it so much. I'm glad she's back home, though, and although she is already planning her trip back to Disney, I hope she is happy to be home. I decided to write about this experience to share what it was like having a friend live so far away. These are the steps of having your friend move away for a while:
1. The goodbye
For some people, this part is the most difficult. For me, I knew she would be happy and that this was the best possible thing that could happen to her. She was moving to Disney World, after all! Even if you know that, though, the goodbye can be excruciating. It doesn't matter if it's just a few months – it can still be difficult sending off one of your closest friends. There isn't anything you can do about it, though. I know those aren't comforting words, but the best thing you can do is be happy for them and remember that they will come back.
2. The waiting
You know they'll be back. You know they'll be happy. Does any of that make it better? Nope! No matter how much you text or FaceTime, you'll miss them. You'll see their pictures on Facebook of how happy they are and all the new friends they've made, and you'll wish that you could be in those pictures with them. Just take a deep breath, dry your eyes, and be grateful for each chance you get to hear about how their life is going.
3. The reunion
This is it! This is the moment you have been waiting for for months! You schedule a time to meet up, and you drive as fast as legally possible to get there early. You see them, you run, you hug, and you may even cry! It could feel like you haven't seen each other in years, or it'll feel like they never left. Whatever happens, your friend is back! All of that waiting and all of that pain paid off. They had a great time, they grew to become a new and better person, and now they are back to see how things have changed. Keep in mind that some things may be different now. You two probably grew in those few months apart. Your relationship may still be as strong as ever, but you may notice a few differences. Don't be afraid of them; those are good things too! Be excited that you've grown beyond being miles apart and made your friendship stronger because of it.
Well, those are the things you can expect when your friend moves off. Even if it hurts, remember that it's a good thing! Disney was probably the best thing that ever happened to my friend, and I'm so glad that she went. It's nice to have her back, though!
If you or someone you know is interested in the Disney College Program, my friend made a few videos talking about it and her experiences at Disney. You can check out "Let's Talk Disney" on YouTube for more details. Shameless plug? Maybe, but it'll be helpful to hear someone talk about their experiences at Disney. Good luck!
