Almost a Year

It's no secret to my family and friends that I still look back at my Disney College Program (DCP) with fond memories. Everyday since January, my TimeHop app has notified me of the adventures I was having a year ago from today. It makes me miss my Disney family, the friends I became so close to, in so little time. 

Thankfully, social media has kept us connected! It is a blessing to see my friends activities and daily endeavors when we are a thousand miles apart. But, something I have noticed lately, is that all these wonderful people I met, are going back. Whether it is for another program or an amazing full time position, I find myself full of both envy and joy. I'm so proud of these men and women, but at the same time, I wish I could go back and create magic with my design skills. 

What is keeping me from going? Family and loved ones. I always said, "I want my kids to grow up near their grandparents." I want them active in each others lives. Now that I have started to think about the future in this manner (Important: note I said think, not plan) I can't imagine picking up and moving to Florida. Either way, stay or go, I will wish I were at the other place.  

I have searched for positions that allow you to work remotely, but I don't think their is any such thing. If there is, let me know! But I think the company prefers their cast members on location, which makes sense. 

So I have decided to do what I can to make it apart of my every day life by doing the following. 

1. Following friends who work at WDW (they share amazing photos and stories) It's great to have friends who share your passion.
2. Following all Disney accounts on all forms of social media (I even receive push notifications)
3. I am a D23 member (Not gold yet)  
4. By having a separate savings account for my next Disney trip 
5. Continuing to talk my Disney family and plan our reunion

All in all, I am grateful to have had the experience I had and meet the people I met. I can't wait to see them again. 

The Best Experience I've Ever Had

Every single person I talked to about the program before applying said the exact same thing, "It's the best experience I've ever had." At this time, I completely agree with them. But if you would have talked to me a month into my program, I wouldn't have agreed.

I do think it is the best experience I have had, however, if anyone ever comes to me asking about the program... I won't sugar coat it but I won't scare them away either. Honestly, it is hard. It is also all circumstantial. How your experience goes depends on many things such as; your work location, coworkers, leaders, apartment complex, roommates, whether you have a car or not, etc.

It was very difficult not having a car. I am used to that luxury and freedom. When I was there I felt like I was either having people go out of their way to give me rides, or like I was being held down because of the bus system. I am grateful for the buses, but they need to improve their service. I don't think we should have to leave 2 hours before work to get there on time. And if you wanted to get groceries, you would have to go on your day off when you obviously want to go to the parks.

My coworkers and roommates made my experience worth while. I made life long friendships there. We bonded like no one would imagine. My roommates and I all went through major life event changes and being there for each other created a bond greater than friendship. The support they gave me when my grandma passed was appreciated and made things easier. I only hope they can say I did the same for them.

My coworkers who quickly became some of my closest friends are beautiful women who know how to have fun and keep an eye out for me. We were there for one another and always had fun, whether it was doing laundry, laying around sobbing to movies or running around the parks.

To sum it up: Do the program. But don't expect it to be easy. Meet as many people as possible, because you never know which one will come into your life and change it. Honestly, it's the people who make the program what it is, you just happen to be at the happiest place on earth.

What are you doing after your program?

What am I doing after the program? I don't know. All I know is I'm going home and looking for my first big girl job. I'm very nervous and excited at the same time.

My fellow peers are all going back to school. I'm one of the few that did the program after I graduated. I still dream of working for Disney as a graphic designer. I applied for a professional internship but did not hear anything. My gut is telling me to go home for now. Maybe someday I will work my way back here.

The classes I took with Disney, Exploring Disney Marketing and Exploring Disney Heritage, taught me a lot about the company. Being in Florida, most the jobs revolve around going to the parks. Kids have stories about how they came every year when they were growing up. I came once.

I grew up with Disney movies and their entertainment industry. That's where I could see myself. Unfortunately, those will be hard to get to. But I know if I put my faith in God, He will lead me down the right path.

I've learned much here, about the world and myself. We will see what the next chapter in my story is. I know someone is busy planning it!

You're from South Dakota?

The reactions I have received about where I am from have been priceless, from fellow cast members and guests. I have even become a part of a scavenger hunt.

Not long ago, I was talking to a cast member as a guest about the program. She asked where I was from and once she heard SD, she asked me where I parked... I said Sioux Falls, SD. She is on the hunt for the 50 states and taking pictures of their license plates.

She doesn't have the Dakotas.... But she has Hawaii and Alaska? Interesting.

And today, a little girl was asking all the cast members where they were from. She ended up getting my signature for her scavenger hunt of 50 people from each state.

Scavenger hunts are popular. I've had so many people ask me questions so they can move on with their hunt. Today, I took a selfie with two girls.

The most common phrase I hear when I tell someone where I'm from is this, "You're the first person I've met from South Dakota!"

Hopefully I'm not the last! :-)

Magical Moment #2

I wish I could remember her name and age. It happened a while ago, but the memory is clear other than those two pieces if information.

It was a little girl, maybe 7 or 8 years old, who approached me out of no where as I was stocking in South (womens apparel). She wasn't shy in the least. You could tell she had a disability but I didn't let it phase me. I started talking to her like I would anyone else. Then for the next 10 min she proceeded to dress me up in hats and necklaces telling me I was going to the beach.

After a while, her dad had to take her hand and tell her Erin needed to get back to work. And just after that she ran up to me and gave me a big hug. I couldn't help but smile. Just before he walked away, he thanked me for being so kind. To sum it up, it brightened my day. :-)

Magical Moment #1

I'm not going to lie. It is a little hard to make a magical moment in Downtown Disney at a merchandise store. Maybe I have more of an impact than I realize. But here are moments I have been apart of and feel like had an impact, big or small.

One day, I was stocking in Adventure (boys), when a dad came up and asked if we had warm hats. Being in FL we don't have the biggest selection of stocking hats for obvious reasons. But we did have a few options. I pointed out the Star Wars hats in the next room over. When the mom wasn't thrilled about those, I showed them three more. One was pink and fluffy, another was a grumpy theme and the last was a simple stripped hat with a Mickey on it. The mom loved it, but her little boy screamed no.

I got down on his level and started talking with him. His name was Evan and he was 3 years old. He was shy but smiling. I asked him if he needed a warm hat for the parks tomorrow and he screamed excitedly, yeah! I asked him if he liked Mickey and he shook his head. I told him I did too and said look at this hat! It has all these colors and look! Its a Mickey with a silver outline! Do you want to try it on?

He slowly nodded with a smile on his face and his mom got at our level with us. She then asked him if I could put it on. He smiled and said ya. So I put it on and he looked so cute. I told him how awesome he looked and showed him the mirror. He just looked at himself for a minutes as his parents laughed exclaiming he was such a flirt and that they wished they had recorded it.

Evan and his parents got the hat to wear at Magic Kingdom the next day. I wouldn't have tried persuading him if I wasn't sure that his mom loved it.

I couldn't help smiling after I walked away. 

What day is it?

Sitting at the bus stop in this heat I realized a common question I have been asking myself for a while now... What day is it? It's Tuesday? No that can't be. It feels like Friday. No wonder the last month has blurred together.

Its gone so fast, I'm determined to kick it into gear and do all the things I want to do before I leave. I will not be extending my program simply because I'm ready to get on with the next stage in my life. I'm ready to find my career and get in a groove. I'm at a very different place in my life from others on the program. I've graduated. I've had wonderful experiences in my field. And now it's time to go and get the first full time job.

I did apply for a Professional Internship with Disney but received an automatic response telling me I wasn't qualified for the position. I searched high and low for positions and I felt the role was the perfect fit for the experience I had. So I'm going home in May. I can say I worked for Disney. And maybe I will work for them again, in the field I love and have a passion for. But it seems to me that the time is not now for whatever reason.

So much is going through my head right now, but I will leave it at that for now. :-)