The Beginning of My College Program Journey

It would be very easy to say that the beginning of my College Program was quite unconventional. To begin this story, we have to go back a few years, about 8 to be exact. I was in my freshman year of high school when I realized the only true thing that I wanted to do with my career, would be to work for Disney.

Most people when they hear this, they think, "what an interesting/strange goal." But not my family. From the very first time I had mentioned this goal to my family, all I ever got was encouragement to chase my dreams - an old adage that had been drilled into my head over the years of enjoying trips to Disney and Disney movies, television, and songs. Some of my greatest memories are those of my grandparents taking myself and brother and all our cousins, aunts, uncles, and parents to Walt Disney World, not just one, but two times. I could honestly tell you hundreds of hours of stories of why I love Disney and the love it has showed myself and my family - but we will save some of those for a later date.

Heading back to the main story here, it wasn't until I was a freshman in college that I heard about the Disney College Program (DCP). If you don't know much about it, a basic "in a nutshell" version is that it is a four to eight month long internship at either Walt Disney World or Disneyland in which the Cast Member (Disney speak for employee) will work at the resort while taking classes to expand their knowledge about running a multibillion dollar company at its most basic levels.

After hearing about the DCP, I knew in my heart, this was my chance. This is how I am going to make my dream come true! After completing my freshman year of college, I looked further into the application process of the DCP and was nothing short of overwhelmed! There was so much information! How was I going to do this?! Nevertheless, I continued my research about the DCP and figured out exactly when I would have to apply to be able to join the DCP at the end of my sophomore year, and spend the first semester of my junior year in WDW.

Here, it is important to note how the application process for this program works. First the applicant fills out a standard job application (major, GPA, job experience, etc.). If the recruiters like what they see, the applicant is then asked to partake in a web based interview (WBI), which asks a lot of questions about the applicants personality (time management skills, work ethic, situational questions, etc.). Immediately following the WBI, the applicant is then either invited to participate in a phone interview, or is taken out of contention from there. If the applicant makes if to the phone interview, that is the final step in the process, other than just A LOT of waiting.

Unfortunately, this first time I had applied I had not been asked to continue on to the phone interview, and I was crushed. This was the only thing I had ever truly wanted and the reality that my dream was not going to come true right then was devastating. By the end of my sophomore year, I had joined the dance team and was excited to make a new set of friends for my final two years of college. The DCP moved to the back of my mind and became something that I would get to if ever given the chance.

As my final year of college came to a close, I had a job set up in Pittsburgh and plans to move in with a friend from college. My DCP chances had come and gone, and while I was sad, I lived comfortably with the choice I had made to not reapply during my final two years.

And then January 22, 2019 rolled around. It was just like any other day, I was chilling in my room watching Netflix and Snap Chatting some friends, when I got the Chat that I can positively say changed my life. It was my friend, Rachel, who is as much of a Disney Geek as I am, telling me that Disney expanded their application deadline to up to a year after graduation. (Previously you could apply for up to six months after graduation) I honestly couldn't believe it, but knew it was an opportunity I could not pass up again.

That same night, the applications went live, and I went ahead and applied, somewhat nervously, for the second time to the DCP. In about two hours I had been invited partake in the WBI, the part where I had been removed from contention last time. I set aside time for myself for the following day to take the WBI and to my greatest surprise, I got asked to participate in a phone interview. I was so excited and overwhelmed, all I remember was crying and immediately calling my parents to tell them the news.

My phone interview was about a week later and I can honestly say that I have never prepared so heavily for anything in my life. This phone interview was - up to this point - a life defining factor. I knew I had to do everything I could to prepare for this interview, and anything short of perfection just wouldn't work.

My phone interview itself went quite smoothly. My interviewer's name was Linda, and she was one of the nicest interviewers I had ever had the pleasure of speaking with. Even with those factors, I was still convinced that I messed something up and was not going to be offered a position.

Now, you all know the end of this story, but I will share with you anyway that about 10 days later, I got my official offer to join the DCP Fall Advantage 2019 as a front desk agent at one of the resorts. There are still days that I am unsure of what to do with all of the excitement rolling around in my brain, but I know more than ever that where I am now is exactly where I am meant to be.

As a final bit of joy to add to this story, and a thank you for sticking around and reading to the end, I would like to share with you another bit that makes this story all the more magical. January 22nd is not only the day that I applied for the Disney College Program, but it is also my grandpa's birthday. My family and I lost my grandpa two years ago, and I can't help but think that he was up there speaking with his new buddy Walt and helping me out a little bit.