Well a little about me- I'm 27 years old and finally a sophomore in college! Woohoo! It's only taken me, what, almost 10 years to get there, but damn it, I'm not a freshman anymore! You don't know how ecstatic I was to see SOPHOMORE printed on my transcript! Why has it taken me not quite 10 years to finally become a college sophomore? Well, I haven't been continuously enrolled in school and I've moved around and tried and experienced new things and places along the way.
I was in a group called Up With People. That was probably the most life changing experience I will ever have. I was fortunate enough to be chosen into this program in 2000. I packed only one suitcase and I was off to Colorado! I spent the summer living in Windsor (not far from Ft. Collins and Greeley) and "working" in Denver.
That summer, over 700 students from all over the world gathered at a large high school north of Denver where we learned and rehearsed the songs, dances, and staging of our large off broadway production. The show we performed was focused on multi-cultural acceptance and appreciation. It was amazing! Every few years, the show changed but always kept the same message. The show I was a part of was called "A Common Beat." I think it is by far the best show Up With People (UWP) has produced. But I'm not biased or anything ;)
After spending the summer preparing the show, we hit the road to tour. The large group was split into 3 different road crews and I was a part of Cast C. There were already 2 other groups touring since January of that year, so in all, there were 5 groups on the road each year. With Cast C, we traveled through the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario and Quebec Canada, and New York. While traveling and performing our show for these communities, we also stayed with host families and did community service in each town we visited. It was very interesting meeting the locals of each stop and getting to know their culture. Quebec was a little hard for me at first to adjust to, I experienced a little bit of culture shock, but it turned out to be so amazing! Sometimes you have to step outside your comfort zone to appreciate and have a respect for people, places, and cultures.
Trouble did arise while on tour, however.
Midway through what was supposed to be a year long tour, UWP needed to disband due to financial problems. UWP always has been non profit, and unfortunately, someone had not managed the financial aspect of the entire organization too well and therefore, left us disembarking after only 6 months. I did not get to experience my part of the tour which would have let me experience some wonderful places and cultures over in Europe. I was devastated and heartbroken. I had nothing left to do, but return home.
So, in December of 2000, I came back to good ole Duncan, Oklahoma. But not after first traveling to NYC for New Year's and meeting many of my UWP cast mates in Orlando, FL for a little vacation and some fun.
In Jan. 2001, I learned about a program at Walt Disney World called the College Program. I was very excited about learning this, as I was anxious to get out of Duncan again and a little bitter for having to come back so soon. So I applied, was accepted, and the next month on my way to Orlando, FL!
I lived in one of the apt. complexes that Disney owned and ran specifically for this program. It felt more like a dorm though. Sharing a room with someone, checking in and out, obeying all the rules that might apply at a university, etc. I worked at WDW's All Star Sports Resort. It felt more like the Motel 6 of Disney, and that's usually what we all called it. My first choice of job was in entertainment, which I had been accepted into. I would be working in one of the parades at EPCOT! How exciting! But, as I would soon learn before my arrival, the entertainment dept. was no longer accepting new hires so I had to go with my second choice-hotel hospitality.
So, as a 'cast member' at Disney World, I was referred to as a Front Desk Hostess and wore a costume to work-not a uniform and we were always on stage. lol Kinda cheesy, but isn't that what Disney is all about? The pay wasn't that great, but most internships aren't paid anyway, so that was nice. The best perk was getting into the parks for free! If I wanted to ride the Tower of Terror at MGM Studios, I just went, rode it, and left. :) I definitely went to EPCOT at least once a week to see the Illuminations fireworks show every night. By far, one of my favorite things in this world. I even bought the damn soundtrack.
As a Disney cast member, I also received discounts on merchandise, park tickets, and Disney resorts. My family came to visit and I put them up at the brand new Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge which had only been open about a month-for half the price it cost! It was also nice getting a few free tickets every few months from Disney, and trading those out with employees at Universal Studios for their free tickets, so I didn't pay to go to Universal either. Score! There were about 30 other students that had been a part of UWP and decided to try out the College Program (CP) at WDW also.
And I met 2 of my bestest friends while there-Joey and Kelly Mac! Love you guys :)
My internship at Disney was a 6 month stint, but I loved Orlando so much that I decided to stay there after the internship had ended. So I moved in with Kelly Mac and started working at Lane Bryant in the Florida Mall. I eventually worked my way up to Assistant Manager and stayed there for a few years.
I met my very best friend, Kristy, during this time. I LOVE YOU!!
I had some of the best times of my life in Orlando, and it still feels like home to me. I get a little emotional just thinking about it because I miss it there so much. I especially miss going to the beach!!! After a few years there, I decided to come back home to Duncan for a few reasons. I missed my family, especially my grandparents and my new little niece. And I thought I was ready to go back to school. So I worked, and went to school part time.
But I wasn't quite ready to settle down just yet. I still had the itch to try something new and explore.
So Kristy talked me into moving to NY with her, her home state. I packed up once again and moved on my birthday in 2004 to Long Island, New York. What a drive! lol I had always wanted to live in NY, and hey, Long Island was pretty damn close to NYC. What an experience it was! I was always teased for having such a southern accent (which I personally don't think I have a strong one at all) and being so laid back. I stood out like a sore thumb up there, but what a great time! It was so nice just to hop the train into the city and go see a show, or eat dinner, or head to the museums, or go clubbing.
I miss NYC at Christmas time, although I will never miss the snow, ice, and cold.
But then I realized after only a year there, that I was definitely ready for school.
So I moved back and enrolled at Cameron Univ. in Jan of 2006 and I've been back here ever since. In school full time for over a year, which is a personal record. I will be a transfer student at the University of Oklahoma next month, if they can get their records straight at the offices up there and not screw it up for me. lol I'm having a few setbacks with that, which is another story I'll get into at another time. So that's my story of the last few years of my life. If you have any questions, don't hesitate. And I'm sure I left out a few parts here and there but it's my bedtime and I'm tired. I might have to come back and edit if I think of anything else.
Check out these websites for more information.
That summer, over 700 students from all over the world gathered at a large high school north of Denver where we learned and rehearsed the songs, dances, and staging of our large off broadway production. The show we performed was focused on multi-cultural acceptance and appreciation. It was amazing! Every few years, the show changed but always kept the same message. The show I was a part of was called "A Common Beat." I think it is by far the best show Up With People (UWP) has produced. But I'm not biased or anything ;)
After spending the summer preparing the show, we hit the road to tour. The large group was split into 3 different road crews and I was a part of Cast C. There were already 2 other groups touring since January of that year, so in all, there were 5 groups on the road each year. With Cast C, we traveled through the Dakotas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ontario and Quebec Canada, and New York. While traveling and performing our show for these communities, we also stayed with host families and did community service in each town we visited. It was very interesting meeting the locals of each stop and getting to know their culture. Quebec was a little hard for me at first to adjust to, I experienced a little bit of culture shock, but it turned out to be so amazing! Sometimes you have to step outside your comfort zone to appreciate and have a respect for people, places, and cultures.
Trouble did arise while on tour, however.
Midway through what was supposed to be a year long tour, UWP needed to disband due to financial problems. UWP always has been non profit, and unfortunately, someone had not managed the financial aspect of the entire organization too well and therefore, left us disembarking after only 6 months. I did not get to experience my part of the tour which would have let me experience some wonderful places and cultures over in Europe. I was devastated and heartbroken. I had nothing left to do, but return home.
So, in December of 2000, I came back to good ole Duncan, Oklahoma. But not after first traveling to NYC for New Year's and meeting many of my UWP cast mates in Orlando, FL for a little vacation and some fun.
In Jan. 2001, I learned about a program at Walt Disney World called the College Program. I was very excited about learning this, as I was anxious to get out of Duncan again and a little bitter for having to come back so soon. So I applied, was accepted, and the next month on my way to Orlando, FL!
I lived in one of the apt. complexes that Disney owned and ran specifically for this program. It felt more like a dorm though. Sharing a room with someone, checking in and out, obeying all the rules that might apply at a university, etc. I worked at WDW's All Star Sports Resort. It felt more like the Motel 6 of Disney, and that's usually what we all called it. My first choice of job was in entertainment, which I had been accepted into. I would be working in one of the parades at EPCOT! How exciting! But, as I would soon learn before my arrival, the entertainment dept. was no longer accepting new hires so I had to go with my second choice-hotel hospitality.
So, as a 'cast member' at Disney World, I was referred to as a Front Desk Hostess and wore a costume to work-not a uniform and we were always on stage. lol Kinda cheesy, but isn't that what Disney is all about? The pay wasn't that great, but most internships aren't paid anyway, so that was nice. The best perk was getting into the parks for free! If I wanted to ride the Tower of Terror at MGM Studios, I just went, rode it, and left. :) I definitely went to EPCOT at least once a week to see the Illuminations fireworks show every night. By far, one of my favorite things in this world. I even bought the damn soundtrack.
As a Disney cast member, I also received discounts on merchandise, park tickets, and Disney resorts. My family came to visit and I put them up at the brand new Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge which had only been open about a month-for half the price it cost! It was also nice getting a few free tickets every few months from Disney, and trading those out with employees at Universal Studios for their free tickets, so I didn't pay to go to Universal either. Score! There were about 30 other students that had been a part of UWP and decided to try out the College Program (CP) at WDW also.
And I met 2 of my bestest friends while there-Joey and Kelly Mac! Love you guys :)
My internship at Disney was a 6 month stint, but I loved Orlando so much that I decided to stay there after the internship had ended. So I moved in with Kelly Mac and started working at Lane Bryant in the Florida Mall. I eventually worked my way up to Assistant Manager and stayed there for a few years.
I met my very best friend, Kristy, during this time. I LOVE YOU!!
I had some of the best times of my life in Orlando, and it still feels like home to me. I get a little emotional just thinking about it because I miss it there so much. I especially miss going to the beach!!! After a few years there, I decided to come back home to Duncan for a few reasons. I missed my family, especially my grandparents and my new little niece. And I thought I was ready to go back to school. So I worked, and went to school part time.
But I wasn't quite ready to settle down just yet. I still had the itch to try something new and explore.
So Kristy talked me into moving to NY with her, her home state. I packed up once again and moved on my birthday in 2004 to Long Island, New York. What a drive! lol I had always wanted to live in NY, and hey, Long Island was pretty damn close to NYC. What an experience it was! I was always teased for having such a southern accent (which I personally don't think I have a strong one at all) and being so laid back. I stood out like a sore thumb up there, but what a great time! It was so nice just to hop the train into the city and go see a show, or eat dinner, or head to the museums, or go clubbing.
I miss NYC at Christmas time, although I will never miss the snow, ice, and cold.
But then I realized after only a year there, that I was definitely ready for school.
So I moved back and enrolled at Cameron Univ. in Jan of 2006 and I've been back here ever since. In school full time for over a year, which is a personal record. I will be a transfer student at the University of Oklahoma next month, if they can get their records straight at the offices up there and not screw it up for me. lol I'm having a few setbacks with that, which is another story I'll get into at another time. So that's my story of the last few years of my life. If you have any questions, don't hesitate. And I'm sure I left out a few parts here and there but it's my bedtime and I'm tired. I might have to come back and edit if I think of anything else.
Check out these websites for more information.
www.upwithpeople.org
www.wdwcollegeprogram.com
XOXO ~T
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