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(A portrait of me done by Taste The World Photography)
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Hi! My name is Ashlyn and I am currently a senior at the University of Oklahoma. I am majoring in Human Relations and minoring in Psychology. My original plan was to major in psychology, but that would have required me to take calculus, and I do not do math. I have actually ended up putting my graduation off by a semester because I chose to extend an internship instead. I am currently on the final leg of my Disney College Program. I am living and working in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I have been here in Florida since January 13th, 2018 and I will not be returning home to Oklahoma until early in January 2019. My internship/program was originally going to end on May 17th, but we were given the opportunity to extend through July 26th, so I decided to stay. Once again we were given the opportunity to extend our programs, and I decided to put graduation off a semester and extend my program one last time. Programs are only allowed to last for one full calendar year, so I chose to go as far as I could. I work in entertainment here at Disney, and I get to hang out with Mickey and Minnie Mouse almost every day! Not to mention I have unlimited access to all four parks and a discount on merchandise. Anyway, I am 21 years old but I only look about 16. I am also pretty short for my age at only 5"1. I am a member of Alpha Chi Omega here at OU, and I have a German Shepherd named Paisley. I love to sing and I danced for 18 years of my life. I was on my schools dance team from 5th grade all the way through my senior year, and I am a 3 time state and regional champion through my former team. I was lucky enough to be able to travel to London and Paris back in the summer of 2016, and yes, I did have to go to Disneyland Paris while I was there. I also have something called Scoliosis and had to have two titanium rods screwed into my spine to correct it. I currently have two tattoos and am hoping to get my third sometime before I leave Florida. I am an only child and, up until now, had lived in Oklahoma from the ages of 3 to 20. I grew up in Tulsa and I went to Union High School. I think that is enough about me for now, but you'll probably continue to learn more about me as the class goes on!
It is very cool to have someone hanging out with the famous Disney mice in person, Ashlyn: wow! There have definitely been students who've had Disney internships before, but never anyone working in one of the parks during the actual class. I am guessing that is going to give you all kinds of storytelling ideas!
ReplyDeleteAnd how great also that you are a dancer: dance is a huge part of the folklore and mythology tradition, and you will even see the theme of dance coming up again and again in the stories, including gods and goddesses who are famous for their dancing, like Shiva, the Nata-Raja or Lord of the Dance in India, or Terpsichore, the Muse of dancing in ancient Greece.
I hope you will have fun with the class in the midst of your Disney adventure! :-)
Hey Ashlyn! I think the Disney programs are so cool and an awesome way to gain experience, while having the best time of your life! It's such an amazing opportunity to be in the program and have a chance to extend your stay. I'm a senior as well her at OU and will be graduating in December, so congrats to you on being so close to graduating! I love dogs as well and also danced from elementary through high school. It was good to meet you!
ReplyDeleteHey, Ashlyn! I’m glad you’re getting so much out of your time at Disney! I love getting to visit Orlando, and I just had a friend go down there to start a Disney internship. I can TOTALLY relate to your aversion to math. I took a dual enrollment math class my junior year of high school just so I wouldn’t have to go near a math class in college. I can also relate about being short; I’m only about 5’2”. If you ever see the OU drumline, you can tell which one is me because I’m the shortest one, AND I stand right between two very tall boys. Good luck on wrapping up your Disney experience, and best wishes to Paisley! German shepherds are my favorites!
ReplyDeleteHi, Ashlyn! That's so cool that you are at Disney World! I have only been once several years ago, but I would love to go back soon. I know exactly how you feel about looking young- I am also 5"1 and look exactly the same as I did a few years ago. I have a picture of all my licenses starting with my learner's permit and the pictures of each looks exactly identical. Have so much fun as your finish at Disney and your time in undergrad!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashlyn!
ReplyDeleteI am really jealous you get to be apart of that program. I am interested in hearing more about how you go t in! I have applied two years in a row but haven't heard anything back. I think it is a really cool opportunity not many have.
I think we may have crossed paths a time or two! I went to high school in Mustang and have been to Union quite a few times. Its a beautiful school!
I look forward to reading more of your work.
Hi Ashlyn!
ReplyDeleteI do not think I have ever been so jealous before! I would give anything to have Mickey and Minnie Mouse as my peers! As for your major I completely understand why you switched due to avoiding math, I did the same thing. I was a business major to begin with but later changed to PR with a minor in business to avoid accounting and other math concepts. Due to changing my major after fall of my sophomore year I will be graduating Dec. 2019 as well! I hope that your time in Disney wraps up well, I loved my internships this summer and wish I could have extended! Tell Mickey hi!!
Hi Ashlyn! I feel where you're coming from with the math lol. I switched my major from Astrophysics to Philosophy for that very reason. I also grew up in Oklahoma, but Norman, not Tulsa. That's cool that you were on a dance team. I did gymnastics all throughout my childhood and continue to do it in college. I hope you continue to enjoy Orlando!
ReplyDeleteHey Ashlyn, nice to meet you! First I just want to say that its pretty cool you get to stay and live basically at Disney World! Are you character, and if so who? London and Paris are definitely on my bucket list to see! Do you have any recommendations as far as things to do there? Also, what exactly are you ultimately thinking about doing with your major after Disney?
ReplyDeleteHello Ashlyn,
ReplyDeleteFirst off, wow! I can only imagine how awesome it would be to work at Disney World in Florida. I have only been to Disney Land in California, but I have always wanted to take a trip to Disney World. What is your favorite ride and who is your favorite Disney Character? Also, how do you become a princess?
I used to be a dancer, from childhood all the way up through my senior year in high school and then in college I performed in U-sing and a Homecoming dance. I have not danced in a couple years and as miss it a lot!
I look forward to learning more about you and reading your stories.
Madi
Hey Ashlyn! I'm so happy that you're got to experience your Disney internship during your time in college. I haven't been to Disney World since I was in the 5th grade, but I think I am going to go to Disney Land this summer and I'm hoping that it is as amazing as it was to me when I was younger. I have always wanted to talk to people that work at Disney World/Land to ask them if they had any insight on what it looked like behind the scenes, partly just because I'm really nosey and I want to know what it is like to be a Disney princes, but there are plenty of Buzzfeed articles where Disney workers share their experiences!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashlyn! Your internship sounds really cool and interesting! What do you do in the program? I have a couple friends who went through the program and I know it offers a wide-variety of jobs for interns. I know if you work for Disney for at least six months you get free entry to parks for life (IDK if I was misinformed but that'd be cool.) Also, your dog sounds really cute! You should post a picture of her!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashlyn! Your internship sounds amazing and I am so jealous that you have gotten to stay in Orlando for almost a whole year now. I love Disney World and I cannot imagine how much fun it would be to live there and work there everyday. I am also a huge fan of german shepherds, my family has had two and I know in the future I definitely will be getting one of my own. Im hoping to go to Europe this summer for the first time, maybe ill try to slide a trip into Disney world over there. Goodluck finishing your internship!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashlyn, I am so jealous that you get to live at disney. One of my friends from high school was doing the same thing at disney land and it sounded so fun. I am sure you see a lot of crazy stuff at the park. I am a senior too and sometimes I wish I would take an extra semester to soak up college just a little more. I hope you are enjoying the class and disney and good luck with both!
ReplyDeleteHey Ashlyn! That's really cool that you get to work with Disney, one of the people I graduated high school with did that and absolutely loved it! I believe they did theirs in Orlando as well. I also understand your dislike of Calculus, it was one class I definitely did not ever look forward to. Thankfully I had great professors who made it bearable. Good luck with your senior year!
ReplyDeleteHey Ashlyn! I'm totally jealous that you've gotten to spend so much time at Disney! I've been twice to the one in California, but was only old enough to remember it one of those trips. Do you hope to continue working for Disney after you graduate? Is that a possibility following your internship? I also love German Shepherds and hope to get one once I have my own place. I hope the rest of the semester treats you well!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashlyn!
ReplyDeleteFirst and foremost I am jealous that you get to hang out with Mickey and Minnie almost daily and get to visit all of the Disney Parks when you want when you are there on your internship! I know another girl that is doing the College Program there at Disney. I have been to Magic Kingdom once for one day and it was ABSOLUTLY magical. And I cannot wait to go back in May with my childhood best friend and her two amazing little boys that call me Aunt Megan.
Even though I am about 6 years older, about 10 inches taller, and have not (I think) been a part of a dance team unless little league cheer counts we would be really good friends and almost the same ish person.
Hope that you are enjoying all the magic at Disney World from the holidays :)
Hey Ashlyn!
ReplyDeleteWow I can't imagine living and working at Disney. I feel like that would be a very rewarding job to have. With all of the amenities of the park available to you any time you want, do you ever get tired of any of it or take it for granted?? Also, you'll have to let us know what the best rides are and where any hidden gems of the park reside! Congratulations on finishing your degree soon and obtaining such a fantastic internship. Best of luck this semester!
Hi Ashlyn!
ReplyDeleteIf only we'd met a little bit sooner, I am a senior math major and I absolutely loved calculus compared to the courses I am taking now! I could've helped you out at some point, as my ambition for a long time was actually to teach calculus at a high school or collegiate level. Also, that's awesome about your internship. I hope it's going how you wanted. Anyway, good luck in your final year!
Hi Ashlyn. I’m a Human Relations major too and I absolutely love it! Wow! The DCP program seems like a lot of fun. What is your favorite park at Disney world? Do you want to work for Disney one day? I think that finding a way to incorporate your HR degree at Disney would be awesome! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashlyn! I am actually a public relations major with a psychology minor, so we are almost the same in that! I have loved having psychology as my minor because I find it so interesting and have really enjoyed the classes I've taken. I also am not a math person, so I completely understand. Best of luck with the rest of your semester!
ReplyDeleteHi there Ashlyn! I'm so jealous of you! The fact you get to experience Disney so much is insane. I hope the Florida weather is bearable for you as well because I hear a lot of crazy things about it. What's been your favorite part about your Disney program aside from all the discounts and free swag I'm sure you get! I'm sorry to hear you'll be leaving it all so but I hope you had an amazing experience with it! It was nice to meet you and good luck on finishing out your semester c:
ReplyDeleteHey Ashlyn, we have A LOT in common! I've been interested in the Disney College Program for awhile, so i think it's really neat that you get to do that and you love it so much you keep staying haha! I'm going to Disney World in January, and I can't wait because it is my family's favorite vacation spot! I am 5'2 so I totally understand looking like I'm 16. At least we look young.
ReplyDeleteHey Ashlyn, your internship with Disney sounds really cool! I would probably try and extend an experience like that for as long as I could too. Are you hoping to continue with Disney after graduation? I am also curious as to what you do within entertainment and what kind of parallels you see with this class (stories, the concept of retelling, skills you have gained) and with your experience working there. Best of luck finishing up your internship!
ReplyDeleteHi Ashlyn,
ReplyDeleteYour internship sounds very interesting. It looks like it's about to be over, though, and that you'll be coming back to Oklahoma relatively soon. From what you mentioned, it seems like you enjoyed it and it had some pretty great perks, so hopefully you don't miss it too much. I hope your classes have gone well this semester!