What IS the Disney College Program?

I know that same of you may not even know what the Disney College Program is, so I though that now is the best time to fill you in!

The Disney College Program is basically a paid internship through WDW. You have to be in good standing with your university and meed any of the other requirements that Disney has, including the "Disney Look". The first step to apply is to complete a WBI (web based interview) and if you pass, you will have three days to schedule an official phone interview (COMPLETELY nerve wracking, trust me!)

The lady who interviewed me was super nice and it almost felt like I was just talking to a friend. I had read about a million blogs about phone interviews so I kind of knew what I was getting into. For example, Disney is very different from any other job in the sense that the whole Disney experience is basically a show. Instead of a job, you have a ROLE. Instead of being an employee, you are a CAST MEMBER. Customers are GUESTS, etc. The most important thing about the phone interview is making sure that you can translate your personality through your voice. (Ever noticed that you very rarely find a rude cast member at Disney?? This is why!) After the phone interview, you have to wait about 4-6 weeks for results, either by mail or email. Doesn't sound so long, right? WRONG! This was the longest wait of my life, seriously.

After about three weeks, I FINALLY got an email! It was a Friday afternoon after I took the hardest Chemistry test of my life. I was having a pretty bad day, so I hoped it would be good news! It wasn't. I was officially  pending. Pending it basically like a wait list. About 15,000 students around the world apply for the DCP and only about 6,000 get accepted. After that email, I was pretty sure that I wouldn't get in and it wasn't meant to be.

Although I convinced myself that I wasn't getting in, I still checked my email religiously just to get some closure. The first Friday of Spring Break, I realized at about 11:30 at night that it was the first day I didn't check my email, so of course I grabbed my phone and logged in. TADA! I see the words: "Disney College Program: Your Invitation!" I flew out of bed to go tell my mom, who was asleep and jumped out of bed like I was a killer or something. As excited as I was, I knew that I had already accepted my Peer Leader position at school, which is a complete honor to be selected for, especially since I'm so young. Even though both choices were amazing, this was one of the hardest decisions of my life.

After about a week of going back and fourth, I finally decided that I only get one life to live and school will always be there. The relief I felt after making my decision was indescribable. I am basically leaving my entire life and everything that I have ever known for seven months. No matter what happens while I'm there, I know that this will be a life-changing experience. Just by making this decision I've realized that I have to life my life for myself, no one else. This may seem like the "easy way out" to some people because I will be basically getting a break from school, but it is exactly the opposite for me. I am an extremely hard-headed person and when I have my plan laid out in my head, I stick to it like it's nobody's business. Straying away from my plan was VERY hard for me to do, but through this I am fully and completely relying on God's plan rather than my own.

This excerpt from "Come Away My Beloved" is one that I randomly opened to one day while I was contemplating this decision. If this is not an answer from God, I don't know what is!

 "O My child, be quick to obey. For the moving of My Spirit may at times be inconvenient to the flesh, and may at other times be diametrically opposed to reason, but obey Me regardless of the cost. The more difficult the assignment, the richer the reward. I will not force you to make the choice, nor make My will inescapable. There will always be an easier way open to you and, to your mind, one that will seem more reasonable, involving less risk. I have calculated the risk to test and develop your faith as well as your obedience, and in the choosing process, I give you an opportunity to prove your love for Me. I intend to lead you into an increasingly abundant life, and by crucifying the desires of the flesh, to liberate your spirit. Trust and give Me a free hand. It will be a joyful surprise when the end is revealed."