Disney CareerStart: Will Meg Make It? REVISED: Meg Is In!

Random Musings

2009-11-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

I believe the college issue has been resolved. It's back to UT, I'm pretty sure. I was fairly certain that's what would happen. I'm completely okay with this decision; it is a great school. My only grudge was that it was still in Tennessee. I guess I'll just have to deal with it. :-)

I'm getting so excited about the CS program. It's getting closer all the time, and the days are going by so quickly... While in part it's scary, because I've got so much to do before December - which fast approaching! - it's exhilerating at the same time. I absolutely cannot wait.

I've got my traveling urge again. It crops up every few months; the urge to go somewhere, anywhere outside the US. I would be content to go anywhere in Europe, especially; right now, I particularly want to go to Ireland. I'm not sure what inspires these overwhelming urges to travel. I haven't watched any movies or the Travel Channel lately. I haven't read a book that takes place in Europe in a while. It just...springs out of nowhere. I can't wait until I can actually do something about them.

I have also recently began to despair anew at my sadly neglected attempts at writing. In middle school, and up to about sophomore year, I wrote all the time. I wrote about anything and everything, and attempted to make each idea a novel. I'm not saying my attempts were any good, or that the ideas were much better, but it was fun. It was a good way to make me feel like I was getting closer to my goal of being an author, as I could see my writing style getting better with each attempt. I don't even remember largely why I stopped. I think it was because I had three different ideas going - all of which I liked - but got completely stuck as far as moving my plots along, and in my frustration I gave up. I realize now that I shouldn't have, but then I got so busy with school and work... now for the past two years it has been writing only what I needed to for classes.

One of my best friends persuaded me to dig out my best attempt at a novel. I worked on it for years; I was extremely proud of it. I got stuck there, too, however. Now, going back and reading, it just seems incredibly mediocre. I am sooo tempted, however, to try to salvage it. I'm thinking of making it a project - salvaging one of my older things that, although mediocre, has a not-so-pathetic plot. I dunno. Right now I should totally be focusing on my two research papers, but I'm a procratinator, so I know that won't work out as I effectively as I'd like.

That's about as much activity as I've got going on right now. Now, back for researching The Praise of Folly and industrial/organization psychology!

96 Days...

2009-11-03T09:54:00.000-08:00

I just got back from my 43rd trip to Disney World. It was amazing! It was warm and beautiful and full of amazing, odd food. It just reinforced the fact that I cannot wait for February to come.

While down there, I took a tour of UCF. I had been fairly certain up to that point that I was going to attend UT (University of Tennessee), but now I'm not so sure. The tour was great; hot and humid, but the guide made it fun. UT has a much better atmosphere, I have to say; it just feels like my kind of college. The thing is, though, freshman move-in day last year was the 14th - a day after I check out for the CS program! I'm sorry, but that's a bit too close. This year, I don't know what day freshman move-in day is, but classes start on the 18th. UCF, on the other hand, starts in around the 24th. Much, much better.

I don't know exactly what to do. I don't really care which I go to (UCF does have a creative writing program, though!), but the starting day is a huge factor. So is cost. I guess I'm just going to have to see what happens.

I Can Feel the Pressure, It's Getting Closer Now...

2009-10-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

I have to say, this is not the senior year that is glorified by high schoolers everywhere. I didn't have many expectations of this year; I knew that I would work just as hard as I had any other year, that I wasn't going to slack off like so many other seniors tend to do.

What I didn't realize was just how horrific this year would be. I have completely loaded up my schedule, and my time management skills (which were lacking to begin with!) have been stretched to the limit. Research papers, learning foreign languages online, reading Ancient Greek literature while studying the intricacies of human thinking... I'm kind of on overload. And on top of that is band. I've been in it since freshman year, and have loved it more each year. Last year, especially, was great; I had amazing friends, I was finally playing the instrument that I wanted... it was great. There was no reason why I shouldn't join again this year!

Wrong... Two of my friends graduated. They were the loud, amusing friends that provided entertainment even in the dullest of situations. I haven't seen either of them since we had a going away party for the one moving to Michigan. The other two friends in my little "clique", as we dubbed ourselves, both came out of the closet. And dated. It was a pretty hateful breakup on one of the guys part, and that caused a lot of tension. That left me with my best friend since middle school. The only problem? His parents found out that he was gay, blamed me (as I'm an atheist, and that makes me devil woman) and moved him to a private Christian school quite a distance away. I didn't find out about them moving him until a week before band camp, at which point I couldn't back out. (His parents had taken away every form of communication since December.)

So band has not been the stress relief that I had been hoping for. In fact, it kind of adds to it. I'm not trying to make this a little high school drama sob story, because I detest that kind of stuff, but just getting it all out there may help a bit.

This is hugely why I cannot wait for February, when I'll move down to Florida and begin the CS program. There, I know I will make friends, have a good time, and - although there will be stress, of course - it won't be quite as much as what's going on now. For me, February cannot come soon enough!

Would You Like Fries With That?

2009-10-15T10:05:00.000-07:00

QSF&B. Quick service food and beverage. That is the role I have been selected for. I don't have the official list with me, but the duties involved are fairly obvious. Basically, I have counter service. I could be working at a place like Pecos Bills - cooking and preparing food, taking orders, bussing tables. I could also have one of those Coke/ice cream kiosks that are found throughout the parks.

I'm rather excited about this role! It wasn't my first choice, but I was definitely prepared for it. I'm kind of worried about handling money, but I'm good at multitasking. So it should be good.

There is only one place that I would not be so thrilled to work, and that would be Cosmic Rays. With attractions I was worried about ending up at Splash Mountain (I know a lot of people love it, but personally, it's my least favorite). Now, the idea of hanging out with a singing alien DJ is not my idea of a fun time. But, again, it is Disney World, so who am I to complain?

Days of Endless Wait... And Blood Blisters

2009-10-03T16:50:00.001-07:00

Things were highly interesting for a while. School is... not as great as it could be. Spanish II and journalism are giving me many anxiety attacks. But other classes, such as Western World Lit. I, have been going amazing. Guess that's how it goes.

My scholarly activites were hindered by the fact that, well, not all my attention was focused on learning. Quite honestly, I was more content to surf the Internet for references to Disney (I could not have survived without DisBoards!!!) than study conjugating verbs or researching the microchipping of paedophiles. I was more likely to end up writing my list of things to shop for if I was accepted than helpful tips for writing personal statements. I annoyed everyone in my life by chatting non-stop about CareerStart; when I was hoping the letters were going to come in, bouncing back and forth between being sure I was going to be rejected to being positive that I had to get in! People at work were absolutely exhausted by my talk, mostly because they don't want me to leave.

Wednesday, I learned that all the letters had been mailed out! (By all, I mean the decisions for those who'd been interviewed so far.) As you can imagine, I went into a state of panic. By then, I had decided that, due to the fact that I'm still 17 and had neglected to emphasize that my age in no way reflects my ability to handle things, I was surely going to be rejected. The threat of rejection, however, did not hinder me in the least from forbidding everyone in the household from getting the mail. If I was getting a letter (or envelope!), I wanted to be the one to get it out of the mail box, darn it!

Thursday came, and Dad got the mail before I did. Friday I got to get the mail, but there was nothing of any interest in it. That leads into Saturday - today. That was the day Mom predicted I would hear from them. I got home from work at noon (I wore Tigger socks for good luck!). Greeted by an empty mail box. I went in, ate a little, broke out the psychology book for some reading/studying, and then got in the shower. As I was about to step out, my father knocks on the door and lets me know that I should probably go check the mail.

Not even saying the house was on fire would have gotten me out of the shower that quickly! I jumped out, pulled on sweats and my "I (heart) Grumpy Guys" t-shirt (complete with Grumpy's picture in the heart!), and raced downstairs. I had to double check that the mail had actually run; for all I knew, it could have been a joke on Dad's part. But everyone else confirmed it, and Dad even said that the mail man had tried to give him the mail, but he made him put it in the box for me.

I was out the door. The driveway is pretty long, and I didn't want to be seen running to the mail box for a rejection letter. So I wandered down te driveway thinking that maybe, just maybe, the reason Dad made him put it back was because it was a big envelope. I really hoped so. By that point, I couldn't restrain myself any longer and ran down the rest of the driveway to the mail box. (I would have heard any cars coming; I would have!)

I opened the mail box... and there it was. A lovely, bright, white envelope with Mickey Mouse in the corner. With my name on it. Oh, goodness, I was so euphoric! I ran (and let me tell you, I do not run. I do not exercise. Physical exertion is generally avoided at all costs!) a bit, realized it wasn't working with flip flops on, paused long enough to take those off, and ran the rest of the way up. I ran right on top of a rock at one point, which has thus far resulted in a pretty bruise on the bottom of my foot. Dad entered the house right before I did (he'd gone to his car to get something), and I fairly collapsed in the living room floor, ripping apart the envelope as I gasped for breath. Mom had out the camera taking pictures, and I nearly passed out (excitement or lack of oxygen, I don't know) when I saw the yellow folder peeking through!

I'm in! I got accepted for QSF&B (explanations at a later post)! Oh, I am so happy right now. I am absolutely ecstatic. I texted everyone in my phone - quite a few of whom did not know who I was - and just sat there and soaked it all in.

Finally, after the wait, the suffering of my grades... I'm in. Thank Mickey Mouse. Meg made it in!

The Phone Interview

2009-09-14T10:30:00.000-07:00

So, after passing the web interview, the next step was the schedule a phone interview. I immediately did so, and within a few moments, I had an interview set up for two days later.

Thursday, September 3rd came, and I was nervous, but not nearly as bad as I'd expected. I have first period free at the high school (I travel to the community college MWF for my lit. class), and my interview was scheduled for 9.15. I spent the first part of my morning in the library, wasting time on DisBoards. At 8.55, I left the library to take my seat outside the school and wait for the call.

I must have looked ridiculous, sitting on the bench out front with my home-made tie-dyed Mickey Mouse shirt, a folder on my lap, and my application and various other pieces of paper laying around me. Just in case I needed it, you know?

9.00 - nothing.
9.03 - still nothing
9.07 - I really need to stop checking my phone!
9.16 - nothing. Oh God, they've forgotten me!

Then, my phone vibrates. I have a voice mail.

My stomach dropped. The call hadn't gone through, and kicked her straight to voice mail! My life was ruined. They weren't going to call back, I wasn't going to get accepted, and I would go into a depression...!

I listen to the message, and the interviewer says she'll call back in ten minutes. I frantically call my mother to rant about my predicament, and in the middle of my spiel, the phone goes off; PRIVATE NUMBER!!! Yay!

Of course, after that panic-inducing five minutes, the interview couldn't start out on a good note. First, there was a misunderstanding which led her to tell me I wasn't eligible for the CareerStart, and I'd have to reapply under the college program. Eventually, we got that worked out, but then the issue of age came up. I turn 18 on January 18th. Now, when I'd applied, that seemed fine, because I'd heard all the arrival dates were generally in February; I'd totally be safe. Not true, it seems; they've bumped it up to January! After another frantic three minutes, my lovely interviewer determined that there are, in fact, arrival dates after the 18th, so I was in the clear.

The rest of the interview went great. I got asked about Attractions (I got the famous Space Mountain question!), merchandising, quick service food and beverages, and custodial. She seemed really encouraged about my past experience working at the animal clinic; how that demonstrates that not only can I work under pressure and multi-task well, but I also have experience handling money as the receptionist.

As much as I initially felt good about the interview, in hindsight, there are a myriad things I would have done differently. Points I should have made, things I should have highlighted... all these things now torture me as I wait to hear back. It seems like the more time that passes, the more negative I feel about the interview, even though it's hardly been enough time for me to have heard back. I still can't shake the fact that, although I feel rather confident about the interview content, my age might still be a huge turn off. Boy, do I hope I'm wrong.

I guess the only thing to do is wait... and frantically check my e-mail every chance I get!

Hello!

2009-09-14T08:15:00.000-07:00

I have to admit; I never thought I'd ever make a blog. About anything. Period. And then this thing called Disney CareerStart came around, and the wait to find out anything is killing me. What better way to spend my time (which is thoroughly consumed with the arrival of my acceptance into the program) than ranting about it online?

So here I am. I'm 17 years old, and in my last semester of high school. In addition to my regular high school classes, I'm taking three through the local community college, which seemed like a good idea at the time. Right now? The jury's still out on whether it's worth it.

Some time last year, I happened onto the College Board on DisBoards. I had simply gone to ask a question about college, but instead happened upon this marvellous program called Disney CareerStart. I feel I must explain that I am an avid Disney addict. No exaggeration there. In the past... seven? eight?... years of my life, I have been to Walt Disney World a grand total of 42 times; my next trip is swiftly approaching at the end of October. Disney is something that has never lost its magic for me. Since I was little, I've always been obsessed with Disney movies, Disney songs, Disney stuffed animals... Even as a teenager I can still be found wearing Disney clothing or jewelry, or pictures from the latest Disney trip as backgrounds on my computer. In fact, I drove to school from my college class this morning listening to the music from around Magic Kingdom, blissfully singing along.

Now, when I heard about this CareerStart thing, I immediately went into obsession mode. I researched, I joined forums, I asked questions... I even printed out the application in January and filled everything out! For a brief while, I had to abandon my hopes of applying, as a trip to England and Greece seemed much more beneficial. When those hopes became obsolete, however, I must admit, I'd largely forgotten about the program. I was planning a senior trip with one of my friends, and I wasn't going to bail.

Then came the e-mail. The one that notified me that applications could now be sent in. And all my forgotten excitement about working for the BEST company in the world flooded back into me, washing away the guilt of ducking out of my senior trip (for the most part). I dated the application, got a hasty letter of recommendation, and within three days I had faxed in my application.

So the process began. The next step was the web-based interview, which went well (although I was rather nervous about it) and then: the phone interview.