Goodbyes

            So this has probably been one of the hardest months of my life. The Disney College Program started out as a dream of mine that I had 10 years ago. I could work in Walt Disney World, visit the parks whenever I wanted, and still get credit for school while in Florida? Sounded like a great gig to me! Now, here I am 4 ½ months after I began my program and I have a completely different view of this program. Yes, this is an internship, and you get crazy hours, and the shifts everyone hates. But you meet the greatest people you’ll ever know. I met my best friend, made lifelong friends whom I will never stop talking to, and found myself. I know where I’m supposed to be, and I hate the fact that this will all have to end at some point.

            I’ve already said some goodbyes and I know next week I’m going to be an absolute wreck. My best friend will be moving out, the guys’ who I feel like I can call my brothers are leaving for home, and some of my amazing Fantasyland ladies will be working their last Philhar shifts. This is the moment where I wonder why I did the program. By having this program end I feel like my heart is being broken each and every time someone leaves. Yet, I know it was all completely worth it. These people made me who I am today. They know me inside and out; we shared stories about guests who got under our skin, shared all the details about our lives, had hearts to hearts when we were half asleep, and I fell in love with each and every one of you.

            So I’m going to be sappy for the next few lines…

Thank you to my entire Fantasyland family. You guys tried to help me keep my sanity through those 3:45 a.m. shifts. We may have clumped at guest flow a few times, or had sticker wars between all of us, and blew bubbles when there were no more strollers to move. When I’d pull Carrousel rotation and you all understood the hatred I had for CDS at that moment. Listening to all of my life drama which wasn’t all that important, but seemed like it at the time. Helping me fill the shows that were at capacity, and guests’ constantly listening to us say “move all the way down the row, please do NOT stop in the middle. That is a safety hazard for everyone. Sir, please move all the way down, yes you, the one wearing the hat. Yep, I need you to move all the way down, please”. So thank you to every single person I worked with: Andria, Cait, Chad, TJ, Edson, Daniel, Natasha, Jen, Melissa Emma, Jacob, Jackie, Austen, Pedro, Paulina, Ryan, Jonathan, Analia, Eric, and everyone I left out!

Sarah Mae, Angela, and Gemma! You ladies didn’t think I’d forget about you?!?! You three are wonderful people. Y’all made me so happy every time I worked with you. You listened to me vent to you about whatever drama was happening that week, complain about the positions I pulled at work that day, and act like my psychotic self. You girls are amazing human beings, and I know I wouldn’t have had nearly as much fun at and outside of work without you! Angela, Beaches will always be here for you; so make sure you visit! Gemma, I’ll miss my kiwi, and please visit me in the states whenever you decide to come back! Sarah Mae, girly we’re here till August, but you are rocktastic. You were so quiet at the beginning of the program and now I can’t get you to stop yelling and screaming about your day! I love all of you girls’ so much and I hope we will stay in contact for the years to come!

My Pan peep’s: Erica, Blas, Stefen, Mason, Megan Adele, Sean, Wan-Ling, and Rumi.  Thank you for dealing with my weirdness in CDS! I became good friends with y’all and I hope I didn’t bother you too much with my loudness and random awkwardness!

Natalia, you were a wonderful roommate, I was so lucky to have you living with me! Thank you for dealing with my three alarms in the morning, my messiness, my constant discussions about the same topics until I completely overanalyzed everything, and for forcing me to watch The Vampire Diaries! You are wonderful girly, and I miss you a whole bunch!

            Paul, thankfully I have until August to say goodbye. But, what I’m going to say now is thank you for absolutely everything you have done. You are a wonderful person, and I’m so blessed to have you in my life. I don’t know how I’m going to leave in August, but right now I just want to say thank you.

            Kevin and Kody! You two are like my brothers. I talked to you over Google hangout’s before the program even started, and I had no idea that we would become so close. Kody, your awesome thanks for all the advice and you know just being your awesome self! Kevin Bear, if you ever turned into a slug I would still love you. You are one of my best friends, a fantastic artist, and an amazing human being thank you love for being you. We all better meet up at least once every few years, if not annually!

            Kristen. Hmmmmm, I never thought I would meet someone like you. You are crazy, weird, cool, silly, ridiculous, and just all around awesome. You are my Buzz Lightyear! I hope we do another program, and we move down here and live together. You are so wonderful and I know I will be an absolute mess on Thursday when you leave. Skype will be in our future, so will Facebook, letters, packages, and any other form of communication there is! I love you girly and I’m so glad that you are a part of my life now and forever.

            Alright, that’s enough good byes or as I hope to put it, “See you real soon”.