Today's beautiful weather is a sign of new beginnings. The spring flowers, and trees blooming, gives us hope for another hot summer right around the corner.
It's May 3rd, a month away from my 23rd birthday and needless to say I'm speechless. It's almost 1 year since I left my 2nd Disney College Program and began my seasonal position with the company that has opened up so many doors in my life as well as memories with friends that I consider family from all over the world.
The seasonal status is no joke for people who live out of state from Disney World. Its difficult and challenging and I've come to a lot of realizations. Some friends come and go in your life whether they start new adventures, new chapters of their life, whether it be another job, getting married, going to school or wherever life may take them.
Today's the day I decided to make my announcement. After a lot of debating, lots of opinions and talks with some of my closest friends and family, I ultimately had a choice I needed to make. I wanna finish school, I wanna travel the world, I wanna learn SO much about cultures and ideas pertaining to this world we live in and I feel like I'm being held back by my seasonal position for the company.
I've been on the bubble for so long that I ultimately decided I'm gonna drop status. Keeping seasonal is no benefit to me as my status was directed towards benefiting Disney and working right now on top of school in the fall. I have no time to travel and that's what I want more than anything right now. It's holding me back having to go down there frequently and I feel as though my true friends/acquaintances have shown their colors. When I graduate from Illinois State I'll reapply/audition depending on where I stand, and if no other big boy jobs catch my eye.
At the end of the month I'll find myself visiting Disney one last time. The visit is more on the leisure end then work, although I will be picking up a couple shifts from May 28-June 5th roughly so I can celebrate my Birthday with my Disney family for the FIRST TIME (Epcot I'm coming for you).
It's sad and not easy for me, but Disney "will always be there" and I've accepted it a year later from my departure. My youth and good spirit is not gonna be at this age forever and I wanna utilize it to learn more about myself and life. I'm too young to let my youth get taken away from a company that doesn't truly care about me. They mainly want me for my youth, energy and happiness (kinda like a Dementor, YEA I SAID IT) until the next big thing can replace me......
I ultimately have to think of it that way to keep my head straight on my decision rather than keeping my seasonal status.
This isn't a jab at any one specific cast members or group of cast members who have made a decision different from mine, but its rather whats best for me. It's a chapter of my life I will NEVER forget and I love every single one of the people I've crossed paths over the last few years because of that company. Whether it was a small conversation, and positive or even negative influence in my life these things happen and have brought me to where I am now and I couldn't be anymore greatful.
I'll see you all at the end of the month, but until then......
Have a magical day :' )
