An Introduction

On September 18^th, I received the magical congratulations email from Disney’s recruiting team, offering me a hospitality internship through the Disney College Program.  Four months later, I am packing my life into my car and moving to Florida for seven months.  Taking a semester away from my friends, my family, and my degree to work for Disney has left me a unique mixture of nervous and excited.  I am putting my classwork and life on hold to move south and work for a mouse.

For those stumbling upon my blog, let me introduce myself.  I'm Olivia.  I am a junior at Appalachian State, and a Hospitality and Tourism Management major.  I am the oldest of three sisters, who are 10 and 12.  While they are catching up to me in height, I will always be the oldest (and will never let them forget it!)  I have lived in North Carolina my whole life, and Raleigh will always be home. I love Tangled, elephants, and french fries more than any person reasonably should.  I've read every single Harry Potter, own all the movies, and take any Harry Potter quiz that I come across.  (20+ quizzes later, I am a Ravenclaw.  I am always a Ravenclaw,  I have yet to get anything but Ravenclaw, and I wouldn't have it any other way.)  I watch sitcoms and Netflix documentaries until the wee hours of the morning, and can't seem to fall asleep without the TV on.  My parents have lectured me on how bad this is, but I seem to be turning out just fine.  If I had one non-career aspiration in life, it would be to write a book.  I just can't seem to stick to one topic long enough to produce anything worth reading.  I am a kid at heart, even though my sisters seem to think I'm old, and in some new stage of in-between an older kid and a young adult.  

When I was little, I said if I had to get a job, I would just go work for Disney World.  Now, at 20 years old, here I am doing it!  Of course, to my parents relief, it will actually benefit my long term career goals.  My major gave me just enough wiggle room to convince my parents to let me take a semester off and spend every second I could at Disney World! I have a running bucket list of things I would like to do while in Disney, and perhaps will share it later down the road.

 With just 9 days left until I check-in, I have packed up my belongings, said goodbye to my family, and driven to Miami (in one long, grueling day).  I will be here until I finally drive to Orlando next Saturday, and then prepare for my check-in.  I am looking forward to staying Port Orleans-Riverside and hopping over to French Quarter to try the beignets! Hopefully, I will have time to look around some of the other resorts, and might even end up looking around my future workplace!  I am excited to be working in a resort versus a park, because on the off chance work starts to really feel like work, I will never get tired of going to a park.  

As I prepare to begin this grand adventure, I have decided to blog throughout my time in Orlando.  I want my friends and family to be able to stay updated about my life in Disney World.  This will also give me a place to look back and reflect upon this journey.  I hope that through this blog, I can provide a little insight into my time in Florida for both my loved ones, and those interested in doing the college program in the future.  I hope you stay up to date with my blog, and follow me through this new chapter!