Nostalgia and the Disney College Program

I’m a sucker for nostalgia. Anniversaries, birthdays, you name it. I love looking back on my memories on Facebook and seeing what I was up to a year ago to the day and how my life has come along since then. So when one of my roommates from the Disney College Program texted me today to tell me that we met 3 years ago today, I was instantly in my feelings.  

So much has happened in the last three years. When I look back at who I was in January of 2023, I remember a girl with a dream in her heart and fear so big she didn’t know if she’d make it through being away from home for 5 months. But that version of me was determined to at least try, and I’m so grateful that she did.  

And do you know what happened? 

My dream of working for Walt Disney Entertainment didn’t happen. 

I know-not exactly what anyone was expecting.   

But over the last three years I’ve been learning that it’s okay that that didn’t work out.   

When I look back at that time now, I realize how much God works in the in-between. How much my confidence grew as I had my own later in life college experience and made friends who felt like family. God never promised me that I would get everything I wanted, but He did promise to be with me along the way (Deuteronomy 31:6). I truly believe He led me to Disney and was an integral part of every step of my journey there, even though for a long time I felt like a failure because I didn’t make it as an actor in the company. But lately I’ve decided to change the way I think about that failure. In fact, I’ve decided it’s not a failure at all.   

How can I say I failed when the Holy Spirit led me to pray with various families in the food court at the resort where I worked? Or when I made connections with people I never would have met otherwise? Or when my roommate told me that she didn’t know much about religion, but when she thought of God, she thought of me?  

I dare to believe that I was exactly where He wanted me to be.  

And I’m still hopeful about what’s coming, even though my dreams have changed. Maybe that’s okay. I’m a newer version of myself than I was 3 years ago. I have different priorities. It’s okay to evolve.  

I want to encourage you to say yes to adventure, even when it’s scary, or hard, or you don’t know if it will work out. If you feel that nudge from God to take a leap of faith, to trust in Him and where He’s guiding you, it will be worth it.  

I wouldn’t change my Disney College Program experience. I made friends I’ll have for life and memories that are integral to who I am. I went after a dream and got more than I could have ever asked for or imagined, just like God promises in Ephesians 3:20. Isn’t it interesting how God works things out like that?  

And, darling, if your dream didn’t work out?  

There’s more for you on the other side.  

If you’re on the verge of saying yes to that adventure with God, take the next step. The Creator of the Universe is holding out His hand to you.  

Take it from me. You don’t want to miss it. 

All my love (with an extra dose of Pixie Dust),  

Shannon M.