The Disney College Program is a wonderful experience for college students who wish to immerse themselves in the magic of working for the Walt Disney Company. However, it's not like most jobs. You not only are getting used to working 40+ hour weeks, but are doing so in a bustling vacation destination. It is easy to get distracted by all the surrounding magic and let the "real world" responsibilities fall to the wayside. However, not many students have the luxury of taking time off of school all together to fully dive into the wonderful world of Disney. Amidst all the excitement, many students have to continue their studies while working this full-time job.
I'm here to share my experience of the unique balancing act of school and the Disney College Program.
The Disney Programs are very understanding of students and their school schedules; they want to see their participants succeed in every aspect of their program. Disney offers courses and seminars to all college participants in various subjects. Most courses meet once a week, on a day that will be guaranteed off for your work schedule. Many of these are recognized with the American Council of Education, allowing the work you do in the class to be transferred to your school for accreditation.
Unfortunately, my university is on the quarter system and did not accept the ACE credits.
Since I wasn't getting credit for it, I opted to enjoy the time with my visiting loved ones rather than spend my days off in Disney classrooms. My first quarter there, I decided not to take any online courses through my school either. This allowed me about a month-and-a-half to adjust to my life in the DCP and really sort out all of my schooling for the following quarters. In the hopes of finishing school as soon as possible, I decided to take multiple online courses during my remaining 8 months in the program.
I did not apply for the Distance Learning through the program: an option that sets specific times aside in your work schedule for you to dedicate to your outside coursework. Instead, I created my own schedule around my online courses. I needed to pace myself to dedicate enough time to be able to adequately complete all of my assignments.
to succeed in both school and your hectic life as a College Program Participant, keep 3 things in mind:
Study Outside Your Home
As much as you may love your roommates, they can be a bit of a distraction when it comes to completing school work. Studying in solitude keeps me from distractions and allows me to get through work as quickly as possible. All of the DCP housing complexes offer computer labs. I took full advantage of these. Using housing's desktop computers and working through Google Docs allowed me to not worry about losing my work due to shaky Wi-Fi connections in my apartment. Here, I was able to quietly work at my own pace with minimal distractions and minimal worries. The few times I decided to stay in my apartment to finish a paper, I ended up getting caught up in watching Pretty Little Liars with my roommates; a good time, but resulting in a not-so-good paper. Creating a differentiation between your living space and your work space will be extremely beneficial and ultimately the best decision for you and your grades.
Stick to a Schedule
While CP schedules are never consistent, my school work always was. I had various items due throughout the week for multiple classes. I'd be lying if I said I never let an assignment or two slip through the cracks. However, once I decided to get an agenda and actually write out my weekly play-by-play with my lecture schedule and my work schedule, I was in a much more comfortable position. Rather than spending hours hunched over a computer on my days off, I decided to gradually work throughout the week in the mornings. I worked mainly closing night shifts Magic Kingdom, yet forced myself to get out of bed early every morning to head to the labs to work on assignments. It wasn't always ideal, but this allowed me to have more free time on my days off to truly enjoy the parks! This schedule helped alleviate stresses and actually relax and unwind on my days off rather than scurry through paperwork.
Communicate with your Professors and Leaders
Luckily with my courses, none of my exams had to be proctored. However, many universities do require it. Some of my roommates were able to take proctored exams via Skype and had to schedule those weekly. While I never had to experience this, I was in constant communication with my professors during these courses. Many of my professors were quite excited to hear about my working for the renowned Walt Disney Company and one even offered me extra credit for sharing my experience of applying for the DCP (which came in handy with the aforementioned forgotten assignments). They were very understanding with my hectic schedule. While they were not able to change any deadlines, they were in constant communication with me which helped ease my stress and worries.
Your leaders can help a lot too. If you do have an exam or paper due, speak to your leaders at your work location! They understand the importance of your education and don't want to hold you back in any way. In my experience, your leaders at your work location will help you to the best of their ability to ensure you have time to complete your work. You'd be surprised by how being open can greatly benefit your experience.
Remember, you accepted a full-time job when you accepted your role in the Disney College Program. But this doesn't mean your studies have to be set aside. During this experience, you must learn how to adequately manage your schedule and yourself. You are an adult and must make responsible decisions when it comes to balancing your social, work, and school lives. After all, the Walt Disney Company loves having driven, well-rounded and determined cast members. Having to split yourself between your school work and the Disney College Program truly is a balancing act, yet it is one that can be done with the right work ethic and dedication. And, of course, just a little bit of pixie dust.
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