🌟 From Heartbreak to Magic: My Journey Through Wilmington to Disney 🌟

     

Life has a way of throwing curveballs when you least expect it. My move to Wilmington, NC was supposed to be a fresh start—a chance to better myself and chase something more fulfilling. And in many ways, it was. But beneath the surface, I was still searching for love in all the wrong places, hoping to fill a void that needed healing, not distraction.

💔 Wilmington: A New Beginning with Unexpected Turns 💔

    Wilmington held promise. I had a job, a new city, and the hope of transformation. But then, the unexpected happened—the company I worked for shut down its Wilmington office, leaving many of us jobless. It was a tough blow, but thankfully, I had already started applying elsewhere. One of those applications was to the Disney College Program in Florida—a long shot, but a dream nonetheless.

🎢 Orlando Bound: Living the Disney Dream 🎢

    To my surprise and delight, I was accepted into the program. This was more than just a job—it was a full-circle moment. I grew up visiting Disney World with my Aunt Sharon and my siblings, and now I was going to be part of the magic as a Disney Cast Member.

    I didn’t get the role I initially wanted—working the front desk at a resort—but I was placed as a merchandise hostess at Wilderness Lodge, and it turned out to be a blast. I met incredible people: coworkers, friends, and even characters who brought joy to every shift. Living in an apartment with six other girls was its own adventure, but for the most part, we got along well and made the most of our time together.

Balancing Work and School

    While working at Disney, I continued my education online through the University of Phoenix. It wasn’t easy juggling shifts, schoolwork, and social life, but I was determined to keep moving forward. One of the perks of being a Cast Member was free access to the parks—rides, shows, parades, and all the magic I could soak in during my downtime.

💌 Love Rekindled and a New Challenge 💌

    Toward the end of my internship, I reconnected with someone I had previously dated back in Virginia Beach. We kept in touch through Skype, and it felt comforting to have that connection while I was away.

    But then, something shifted. I began experiencing something I had never felt before—something that made me feel like I was losing my mind. I started telling my Aunt Sharon, “I think I’m going CRAZY,” and she would gently reassure me that I wasn’t.

🧠 Facing OCD: The Hardest Part of the Journey 🧠 

    I’ve always had some traits of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), but during my time at Disney, it escalated to an extreme. Every day, I’d arrive at the employee parking lot, put my purse in the trunk, walk toward the resort, then turn back—again and again—to check my purse. I had to make sure my wallet and ID were there. I’d check, double-check, triple-check. Nothing had ever been stolen. No one had broken into my car. But I couldn’t stop.

    It got worse each day. No matter how hard I tried to push through, the compulsions consumed me. I felt trapped in my own mind. Eventually, I made the difficult decision to leave the internship a few days early. I couldn’t continue. I needed help. I needed healing.

🛣️ Coming Home: The Journey Continues 🛣️ 

    In June 2015, I returned to Virginia Beach, carrying with me the memories, the lessons, and the scars of an unforgettable chapter. The Disney College Program was more than just an internship—it was a mirror that reflected both my strength and my struggles.


Myself & Donald Duck

My work crew hanging out with Alice

I was able to enter the Disney University and learn
more about Walt. 

Work crew & friends hanging
out with goofy. 

Hanging out with Minnie

Snow White

Just hanging out with my
BOSS! 

Wilderness Lodge crew -
I had to have this huge jacket on
because I have a tattoo on my wrist so 
it had to be covered. 

Learning all about Walt at one
of my first days as a Disney Intern

Myself in front of Cinderella Castle 

Although, I left early
from the internship it was that
early so they let me still 
graduate from the program! 






















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