April 17, 2014

I've Been Searching My Whole Life to Find My Own Place

If you've seen Disney's FROZEN (which is currently my favorite movie), then you probably know that the title to this post is from "Love is an Open Door", and the next line is "maybe it's the party talkin', or the chocolate fondue." Before you go anywhere, please know up front that even though the title is from a love song, this post is about love. It's actually about life in general. When Hans sings this line, I believe he is really talking about finding himself more than finding love. And to not add any spoilers to the mix, I will digress from my FROZEN reference.
As I am quickly coming to a close on my third year of college, the time has truly come to find my own place. No chocolate fondue, just lots and lots of job searching. I have been beyond blessed to have the opportunity to return to Walt Disney World this summer, and to also have a job back at school when I return from Florida to begin my senior year. But I can't help but wonder if what I have been working so hard for is what I want to do.
All I know is that I want to work for The Walt Disney Company. However, there are three main different places where jobs are located: Florida, California, and New York. For the last few months, I have been really getting into Broadway shows. When I was thinking about college in high school, I always had the dream to go to New York. Unfortunately, my parents shot down the idea of me heading to the Big Apple since I came from a small town. They did not believe I was emotionally ready to handle a large city.
And looking back, I believe they were right.
Over the last three years, I have grown immensely. Moving many states away from my home-state, doing an internship at Walt Disney World in Florida, and leaning on the Lord has really shown me that 17-year-old Danielle would not have been able to handle New York. I probably couldn't have even handled Orlando at that point in time. Things go the way they do in our lives for a reason. And now, after learning and growing, I do believe that I will be ready to handle a big city. Whether I'm in New York, Orlando, or maybe even Burbank, I know that I will be able to succeed and do well. I just don't know exactly where I will be going yet.
But that's okay. Spending 8 weeks in Orlando this summer will definitely help. And I will end with a reference to my current favorite musical, Newsies the Musical.
They say folks is dyin' to get here.Me, I'm dyin' to get away,to a little town out westthat's spankin' new.And while I ain't never been there,I can see it clear as day.If you want, I bet'cha you could see it, too.Close your eyes...Come with me,Where it's clean and green and pretty.And they went and made a city outta clay.Why, the minute that we get there,Folks'll walk right up and say,"Welcome home, son, welcome home to Santa Fe!"—"Santa Fe (Prologue)", Newsies the Musical