The interview was a bit nerve-racking, but after getting through it with my friends, two of us who were accepted, were going to DISNEY WORLD! Much more exciting then signing up for another semester of school.

It was so much easier getting prepared to go down to Orlando with someone else. My friend, however, was leaving a month before me. But at least I would know someone once I got down there.

When I first arrived February of 2000, I was really excited. My roommates were totally different from me. In fact, I hardly saw any of them, except my one roommate who was in my room with me, worked with me as well. I saw her all the time, which I think strained our relationship. I only used our apartment to sleep in though. I was always out with people from work or eating elsewhere. I really didn't have the best relationship with my roommates, except I did get a chance to get close with one of them closer to the end of the program, but I was hanging out with my work people a lot more than at home.

I worked in quick service food and beverage at Disney's Animal Kingdom Outdoor Foods. The job itself was not the best. I worked independently at a cart all day long in the HOT sun, got quite a farmer's tan. But it was fun to talk with the guests all day and work by myself. The people made the job so much fun though. We had the best college program because there were so many of us and since we were all going through the same program and the same issues.

All of our work people went out every week and really bonded which made my program so awesome! At the end of that program, none of us wanted to leave. We all wanted to stay, but because none of us had graduated, we all had to go back home, but all planned on coming back to Disney. Although the job was a bit hard and stressful at times and the living situation was not the best, we still loved the entire experience.

I worked the theater show, Tarzan Rocks!, a lot with ODF and got to love the show like I was apart of it. Driving back home, I listened to the Tarzan soundtrack on repeat crying uncontrollably with a box of tissues at hand. That was so bad. I did not want to go home.

After going home, I went through a major Disney withdrawal. My friends and I from DAK ODF stayed in touch for the most part and went through our memories and sadness together, but it was hard getting back to our regular schedule after having such a great time in Orlando.

So, a couple of us got together and said we were going back for an alumni only summer internship during the summer of 2002. I worked quick service yet again, but this time at Blizzard Beach Water Park. This one was much harder because of all the expectations that I had from my previous program. I wanted the same bonds with work people and same schedule of going out every week.

At first, it was really hard to get into the groove. My people at work were all mostly spanish speakers and were not the best at welcoming me. To them, I was just another college program student coming in for a couple of months and leaving sooner than I got there.

My roommates was my bonding experience this time. One of my co-workers from DAK ODF was my roommate during this program, we had planned to come together and room together so at least I knew someone during this program as well.

Only one of my roommates during summer was one I would like to forget. She didn't even know my name after the two months of living together because she was too wrapped up in her own life to care about anyone elses. The other roommates and I bonded perfectly. We still keep in touch and had the best summer ever. We went out every week, if not every night.

Work was harder, but I eventually grew to love each and everyone in LottaWatta Lodge Restaurant. They were wonderful and like my older brothers and sisters. I still go back to visit them. Being at a water park during the summer was crazy and a bit demanding, but great fun still to say the least.

Left the summer program in tears yet again, this time more sad to leave my roommates then the actual job. I knew I would be coming back, just not sure if my roommates would be as well or not. It was horrible. I got to caravan with one of my roommates going home so I didn't have to say goodbye to *everyone* at the same time, making it a bit easier, but not all that better.

After going through, yet again another withdrawal from Disney, I *finally* finished college and make it my purpose to come back to Disney. I got an Advanced Internship at Guest Relations. This was something I had been wanting since my very first internship. Guest Relations was the top of my list and I got it! I came back down to Orlando January of 2003 and began working at Epcot Guest Relations. This internship has been the best teacher that I have had in learning about Disney, myself, and who I want to become.

I have met the best people being in Guest Relations and at Disney yet again. This internship has been the most challenging and definitely worth all the craziness and stressfulness of my previous two college program experiences. I definitly needed that experience to do what I am doing in Guest Relations now.

I am currently working at Epcot Guest Relations as a part-time Cast Member and enjoying every moment of it. Honestly, Disney is a place where you can make things happen for people and make them happy. That is where I feel like I need to be.

The point is to make magic, and although it sometimes seems that magic isn't always happening backstage or in the apartment of where you live, or even in the kitchen of the restaurant where you are assigned to work, magic happens for those guests that you served the meal to, or just in smiling to them. It is the whole package that you are apart of and I love being apart of that for them. I see the direct impact that all cast members have on guests and it makes me love my job.