Disney: Day 1

Hello guys!

First day for me was May 20th. I had to do the whole rise and shine thing and arrive at Vista Way. Disney emphasized that participants were not supposed to show up prior to 7 AM. I arrived, parked, and found myself waiting in an already forming line and sea of people by 7:30 AM.

Since I am living off of Disney property, it was nice waiting in line with just a backpack on my back that held my goodies for the adventure of the day, instead of rolling around a huge luggage accessory.

I had done research prior to the day of my arrival and this is some wisdom that I want to pass on just from my experience and to anyone that is reading this and is just simply curious...

• Dress comfortable--- You may not think about this, but it is the truth. I wouldn't wear flip-flops, sandals, or heels this day. I mean for real... You are going to be walking around a lot! The setup was kind of like a job fair, except you stop at every booth and you either fill out a piece of paperwork or you will be getting a sleuth of information regurgitated to you. Tennis shoes are like the bees-knees for this day.  Also... it is going to get hot. Thus, I wouldn't wear anything that you wouldn't want to sweat in or anything that would irritate you or stick to your body. I overheard so many people freaking out about having to get the clothes they were wearing dry cleaned... Don't find yourself being one of those people! 
• Bring water and snacks--- You might not think about this, but for real, do it! You want to be hydrated and you will find yourself feeling like Pooh Bear with a hungry stomach. I brought 2 bottled water bottles and honestly didn't think about snacks, but I should have. Disney provides you with a piece of fruit, a granola bar, and a cup of water. 
• Be in Disney Look--- Yeah, you can be comfy and all, but don't look like a hot mess. There are eyes on you everywhere. You will be interacting with several Disney Employees and possibly one could be your manager. You honestly NEVER know. Word of advice to people with tattoos and body piercings, have your tattoos covered and have your piercing jewelry out... OR you will be asked to do so. Word of advice to male cast members wanting to keep that facial hair, have your facial hair trimmed and in Disney standards or you will be escorted to an area to do so. Trust me, had a group of guys in front of me at check-in that were removed from the line to get cleaned shaven before they could proceed.
• Have all forms of ID--- Disney tells you about this. Disney reminds you about this. Disney is NOT trying to be annoying and the bad guy here, they are expecting all of the participants to take this responsibility seriously; follow simple directions. Word of advice... NO your college student ID and your driver's license cannot work as your two forms of ID. Those two forms of ID count basically as the same. If I were you, I'd bring a driver's license and your social security card. However, there was a case where some participant's driver's license were an issue in the system, so for safety bring a spare ID. Maybe a passport or maybe your birth certificate. 
• Have all required paperwork--- Disney also tells you about this. Disney also reminds you about this. Disney also sends you a friendly email  reminder about this. Print it all and bring it. 
• Be organized--- Don't laugh. Seriously, maybe put your 2 to 3 forms of ID in a folder and your required check-in paperwork too. You will have it right at your fingers when you need it.

Anyway...
Check-in was amazing. It was busy, but very organized. Everyone was a great big ball of energy, smiles, and helpfulness. You kind of learn the ins and outs of the company. Also, the thing I loved about it the most, was that almost everyone that ran the show had at one point been in my shoes---they started with Disney through the Disney College Program. So it just goes to show that... DREAMS DO COME TRUE!

A quick snap of the Casting building.

After Vista Way, the next stop was Casting. The building was awesome. I snapped a couple pictures of the entrance area before things sped back up again for me and everyone was advised to put cellular devices on silent and away. I didn't get to take a picture of the doorknobs, sadly. :(  The doorknobs are like the door off of Alice in Wonderland. Pretty awesome. Pretty Magical. Pretty epic. Word of advice for people going through Casting, respect Disney when they tell you to put your cellphone on silent and to put it away. You should be socializing with the people around you once you are told to cut the cord from you and your electronic device. I couldn't believe how many people had to be told to put their cellular devices away.


So here it is... I am here. It still doesn't feel real. It really does feel like one BIG dream. I am working at Magic Kingdom as a custodian. I cannot wait!

Tomorrow starts another early day for me... Traditions. I cannot wait to share this journey too!

Entrance Art: Donald, Mickey, and Pluto.

Entrance Art: Dumbo, Daisy, and Pinocchio

Disney

I know that I have already posted my final blog for in this class, but I feel like I just want to keep blogging on. I am thinking about dropping the "Spring 2013," from this blog and carrying the "Writing for Change," as I progress forward in a new adventure... an adventure with Disney.

So guys... I want to share this... If you are looking for a change in scenery and you have a little soft spot for Disney, you might want to think about applying for the Disney College Program. You will get college credit. The Disney College Program from what I have heard is something amazing to have on your resume. The program offers on Disney property living, classes to take (this is where you get your college credit), and once in a lifetime Disney experiences.

Oh, I feel like I also need to mention that there are Professional Internships as well. If you have experience in your field you are majoring in, or you just want to simply be brave... apply for one. Do it! I dare you. :) It is just another way for you to get your foot in the door with an awesome company and for you to have a once in a lifetime Disney experience.

I mean seriously, I have already started making a Disney bucket list. Crazy, huh? This I know. I hear it is a tradition of fellow Cast Members. Yes, I said "Cast Members," because that is what all of the people that become a part of Disney are.

I am not going to lie... the toughest thing about taking an offer from Disney is the "Disney Look." It isn't as strict as it used to be. I have heard that at one point you couldn't have any piercings other than ears (for women), no facial hair (for men), and no tattoos. However, with the generations of piercings and tattoos surfacing, I think Disney has left some wiggle room for us. Note: You can have piercings other than your ears (for women. Sorry, men you can't wear your earrings.), you can have facial hair (for men), and you can have tattoos. However, there are rules with this freedom you cannot break. It is a no-brainer... You cannot wear your piercing jewelry in when on the job. You cannot have crazy facial hair. You have to have your tattoos hidden with either your costume or covered with makeup. This is not a job like some places, where you can wear band-aids and look like you have just stepped away from a tragic bicycle accident.

If you want to read about the Disney Look, go here.
          ----------------> http://cp.disneycareers.com/en/about-disney-college-program/disney-look/

With that being said... I think I need to wrap up.

For those of you possibly interested, here is what'll be coming up.

Oh and these are HILARIOUS!

http://youtu.be/f_WaxuN4o78

http://youtu.be/Ib9w1fi4wdc

http://youtu.be/iGb1UHsVUDo

http://youtu.be/uuIb7aUVOfM

Reflection

This class has been a journey for me. At first I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had no prior knowledge about grants or the process of how it all goes. I will say though that it was a true awakening.

For my first project it was nice to be able to get to know the history or what I like to call the "required dirt" that would be needed for future projects as the class progressed. However, this is where I ran into a roadblock.

Actually... this is where I ran into a series of roadblocks.

From project one and after getting a better understanding of both myself and what I was actually doing for this class... I switched over to another organization. I know things like this happens, but it also means that while you are stepping forward, you are also taking about 10 steps backwards. For students of the future I would recommend that if this happens to you, rise to the challenge and be prepared to look up the information that you WILL need to complete your projects that will follow. It isn't hard, but it does mean become equipped with both patience and time. In the process don't forget to breathe!

From stepping away from project two, I found myself pleased with the extra effort that was put into it. Of course my favorite part was putting together a visual to represent my fundraiser, but there was a lot of time and consideration put into how it all came together.

Next, comes the big whammy (Which is still in progress at the moment), project three... our grant. I did another organization jump here. Crazy, huh? I did it though. I have been blessed with the opportunity to try on a real hat instead of a fake one. I have teamed up to help my sister-in-law and having her project request a grant through the Target company. It has been both interesting and more of a personal project to me. Of course this is my first chance of attempting to do this, but I have learned through guest speakers in class that first timers can be failure... so I am not expecting the moon out of this project, but I am sponging away from it the ultimate experience.

This is what I think...

This class truly is about trying to figure out if this is something you could see yourself doing. You will figure yourself out along the way. It is also about taking the time to rise and overcome your challenges that you embark on after day 1 of class. This isn't going to be a cake walk and no future student should think that. I would advise people to think locally and to think small. The bigger you think... well, it isn't bad, but it will be highly challenging and can be unsatisfactory. Make sure you read your book... there are so many little things and tips and tricks of the trade that will assist you. Especially when it comes to making a gift chart in project two. I also would advise future students to think about something the is "REAL". If you can find something that is real then this will feel real and therefore the overall process could be a real opportunity for you.

Overall...

This has been an experience that I am glad to have under my belt. As the semester is coming to an end I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. So the question is... Is grant writing an option for me? AND my answer is... I cannot say yes... I also... cannot say no. However, as a writer it is nice to know that this is a field that I can consider as a backup plan.

Almost...

So... we all are almost at the point where we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Dude, I couldn't be happier. :)

Tonight I am going to be finish plugging in the rest of my information and typing it all up. After class last Thursday, I feel horrible for having just an application form. Some of you guys are working very hard on your information and I kind of feel like I wish I would have gone with something maybe a little bit more challenging, but then again it has been challenging enough to gather some of the information that I need for something that is as simple as an application. So... I guess it goes both ways.

Anyway...
Keep up the good work guys and WE CAN DO THIS!!!

Also...
Thank you all for the congratulations. You all have no idea how stressed out I have been over this process of applying for the Disney College Program. When I received that acceptance email... I burst into tears and was screaming at the top of my lungs. I cannot wait to embark on my journey. I leave for Florida on May 20th and all I can say is... ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!

Starting

So... I finally got all of my information setup that was required to make a profile to log in with Target, so I could continue my journey with the grant I am working on for our final project. BEFORE I could even look at the application form, I had to take a survey to grant me access to the viewing of the grant that Target funds. I thought that was an interesting component, but good news is that I obviously answered all of the questions appropriately because now I am back on the right path and can see my application. Woohoo! Hope everyone else is having success on this project! See you all tomorrow.

Hunting 2

I thought I would do a little surfing into some well-known companies. I came across Target. I remember us talking about looking into what the company had to offer briefly in class, but I still feel like I have miles to go before I zero in officially. I feel like I am getting closer though.

 

This is basically another thought and another grant I am going to keep digging around in: https://corporate.target.com/corporate-responsibility/grants/early-childhood-reading-grants

Hunting

I have still been on the hunt for the right grant to apply for. I have been looking at a series of things, but it is like just when I think that I have something... it is like oh crap, that doesn't fit my project all that grand... on to the next! It truly is like playing a game of "go fish".

At the moment I am looking at:
http://www.educationfund.org/programs/teacherminigrantsprogram/onlineapplication/

I am going to be helping my sister-in-law with applying for a grant to help her in a project for her classroom. However, I am still on the hunt. I am not settling yet.

Grant Writing: Just Got REAL!

So... I was sitting here. My sister-in-law was talking to me about how she visited a daycare today called Dream that is located in Sherwood. She said she went to do some recruiting for her school at Lighthouse Academy. Well, she said when she got there and was looking around that everything was so amazing. The building, the playground, all of the educational tools that they had for the young ones, the works! She then got to talk to the director and guess what guys???? She is a grant writer and that is how she was able to make that daycare as superb as it is. I thought that was awesome!

My sister-in-law was telling me that she is going to try and come to the charter school that she works at and is going to do some 101 training about grants to help them get some of the funds that they need for their school. I asked if I could attend and I cannot wait! If I get the green light and if anyone else is interested, I will keep you posted and if  you would like to come and join in on learning MORE about the grant writing process, hit me up!

Plus... it felt good to know that a place needs and actually has been successful in obtaining grants. Shoot... it has inspired me to look into helping my sister-in-law on her grant writing journey. You've got to start somewhere and I would love to get some EXP! I know and hope somebody somewhere would just love to help her obtain books and educational supplies both her and her students need for their classroom.

Guys... I think this is where grant writing might have just got real for me. Oh boy! :)

Tap Out

It is safe to say that I finally now have a better understanding of how a gift chart works and what it should look like. The text in our Grant Writing and Fundraising Tool Kit book for some reason wasn't that grand. So... I surfed the web and became friends with Google. Anyway, I finally put the final touches on our fundraising project that is due tomorrow and I am ecstatic! I filled the goose egg hole where my gift chart was a fill-in for Peer Review and now I have hit the finally count... 3... 2.... 1... K.O.

Also... though the examples confused me in the book, I did find something useful out of the text... there is a gift chart tool you can use on Blackbaud, Inc. Google it. :)

Help!

I thought that I would share this website with you guys. It is a site where you can search all of the schools in your community and neighboring communities and take a gander at all of the teachers and students that need our help in either gaining money for books or other education tools/projects.

I just was flabbergasted when I got to looking at all the places that need our help. I guess you could say this is where things begin to truly feel real.

http://www.donorschoose.org/

Peer Review Went Peer-tastic

So, yesterday I had a huge frown on my face going into peer review. I had no idea if I was representing my organization the way that I needed to. I just didn't feel like my documents were strong.

This is where I need to say... I have learned that I am a visual learner. I feel like I learned a lot by seeing other great examples of projects like the one I am trying to produce. Plus, it was nice to hear feedback to get the gears to turn again that were kind of sticking in my brain.

I will have to say though that my favorite part of the whole project has been the visual that goes a long with my fundraiser package. Something about putting things together that are both text and image just excites me. I kind of feel like I am trying on a combination of a creative and yet somehow a crazy mad scientist inventive hat throughout this whole fundraising project.

I can't help but wonder if any of you guys have any great advice you would like to share that you took away from your peer review group yesterday? Considering tomorrow is the day that we will be able to take this weight off of our shoulders, it would be nice to know what everyone else has been stressing and tinkering with.

Good luck guys! Spring break is right around the corner! And to all of us that are worrying and stressing about this project, here is a little bit of fuel to keep pushing us along.

Something New

Trying to prepare myself for tomorrow when we talk about our projects is class. Needless to say... With greater debate and a lot of thought... I am putting the rest of my brainwaves to work on Toys For Tots and the focus on their literary program. Sounds fun and less stressful than the direction I was at first stepping. Anyway... 1 dollar equals 1 book and if the sharing of a book can make a child that lives in poverty or come from a poor background feel more inspired and that they can better themselves for the better and keep progressing forward... Well... I totally couldn't be more inspired and supportive.

Hope everyone else is doing grand this week and on your projects! Best of luck!

Recruiter

Wednesday night I actually was able to talk to someone that was able to say a thing or two about the VoluntEARS group. In the final moments of my Disney College Program interview, my recruiter opened the floor for questions. I asked about the VoluntEARS. She seemed impressed that I asked about the group. My recruiter however, didn't tell me anything that I didn't already know, but she did let me know that it is a wonderful opportunity and that community service is a big deal to Disney. Anyway... those are just my thoughts right now. I am still in the mix of thinking about project 2 and what direction I am going to go with it. I keep learning new things about the VoluntEARS group. I kind of have interest in the Blood Drives that the group gets involved with and the playground building mission. Whichever way I go, it is nice to do research and to brainstorm about something that I am passionate about.

Peer Review

I have been doing a lot of thinking about how tomorrow Peer Review is going to go. I have been trying to dig into my group and get as deep into the layers that I possibly can. I have talked to a couple of other people about how to get in contact with people and how to go about getting feedback for this first project. I think it is insane! I have been bouncing around from blog to blog from previous voluntEARS and I have been looking into all of the good and deeds that the group has done.

Leads me to my second thought...
Where in the heck am I even going to go with this project?

I have considered thinking into taking the common good of my group, finding an area that may need some help, such as updating playground equipment or finding some form of project and that being my base of the fundraising. However, I have been wrapped into internship mode too... I have no earthly idea. I feel like I go in one direction and then for some reason I sway with myself and want to take another approach. I have also considered making it seem like VoluntEARS is pairing with another well known group, such as Toys for Tots or The American Red Cross to get people to donate for their cause.

I have just had my mind going in a thousand different ways at once. Good thing is that I have knowledge of my group that I want to represent and that I know that as imaginary as this is... I want it to feel real and I want to have a successful bonding with this project and future projects in Writing for Change.

I hope my thoughts make some inch of sense. Meh.

Volunteer for Disney

I thought this was interesting... so if you are a broke college student and you are looking for a way to look into working your butt off, getting some volunteer experience, but you are wanting it to pay off... check this out...

http://espnwwos.disney.go.com/about/volunteer

From my research you basically sign up and work/volunteer for Disney and you become part of a point system. Once you have logged a "X" amount of hours, you are given in return free admission to Disney.

Thought it was neat and just wanted to share.

VoluntEARS

I've still been on a nonprofit organization hunt...

This one kind of brings the inner child out of me.

A nonprofit organization that has ties with something both magical and inspirational that I adore.... Disney!

 

I have been doing some looking into this organization. It basically has become a way that Disney can give back. The organization is devoted to giving back to the community and the environment. They are a part of several different projects and have branched out to several known organizations. (The American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Club, UNICEF, Relief for natural disasters, ECT.) I find this nonprofit group to be inspirational and something that I could hope to one day find myself actually being a part of.

 

I mean seriously, a volunteer with "EARS"! Who wouldn't want to be a part of that? If you are a  Disney fan, you'll get the pun.

 

A couple go-to links:

http://publicaffairs.disneyland.com/voluntears/
http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/citizenship/community
http://wdpr.disneycareers.com/en/about-walt-disney-parks-resorts/corporate-citizenship/
http://disneycareers.com/en/default/


DISNEY FACT:
The Disney attraction "It's a Small World" was a tribute from Disney to UNICEF. Throughout the attraction, if you pay attention, you'll notice that there is only 1 moon and 1 sun. The thought behind this was to emphasize that despite all of the different people in the world, we are truly all together here on this planey, (should be) living in harmony, and taking care of each other.

Don't believe me? Check it out here.
http://thewaltdisneycompany.com/citizenship/consumer-engagement

Honestly, I haven't the slightest clue in what direction I am wanting to go...

I was speaking to my mother-in-law about this class and she gave me a couple of options to possibly think about. She is a nurse at Children's in Little Rock and was giving me some possible nonprofit organizations that she knows of and the people that she could put me in contact with about them. On that kind of has been rattling around in my brain, which I believe she called it Candlelight Holders. (Note: I was loading the dishwasher and cleaning house while having this brief conversation and wasn't paying too much attention, so I could have my name of the nonprofit wrong.) Anyway, I did catch that this nonprofit held an event called The Gallery of Hope. Which, I have went and purchased a piece of art from this event. (A very cutesy ceramic star bowl.)  At this Gallery of Hope, the children at the hospital actually put their artwork in and there is a silent auction. A live auction happens as well, where select items go beyond a set buyout price. From what I understand, the funds go towards finding cures for childhood cancers and funding art and activities for the children that are at Children's. I  could have my information crossed about that previous statement, but yeah. I will have to get my facts together soon.

Not only has this thought crossed my mind, but there is an artist that is trying to find funding at the moment. This artist goes throughout Children's Hospital and decorates the patient's IV poles. I thought this was a neat and kind hearted thought that brings both fun and hope to shine in the rooms of the children. I'm not sure how she would go about seeking the funding that she desires for her cause, but I will say that it is another project that has me interested. I'm not sure how I would go about taking this on as a possible project, but I think that it would be awesome to help her out and her cause. I've seen pictures of what she has done and I just think she does an amazing job. Plus, she makes children smile!

Anyway... just a few thought and ideas that I have trailing at the moment.

I still honestly have no idea where I am going... but at least I have somewhere to somewhat begin.