New Year's Resolutions

I have to be honest and say that I am not normally big on New Year's resolutions. I normally think, if you want to do something better why do you need to wait until a new year to make that happen? But in reality this year I wanted to be intentional in my daily living and decided that there were a couple of things that I truly do want to do better in 2016.

1. Running. Late in college I started running and loved it. I didn't continue in Florida at first since I was on my feet so much at Animal Kingdom walking miles a day in the heat. However, after I left DAK and started my second PI as a desk position I started running again. I actually found that I was in decent shape due to that fact I was getting a good amount of exercise just working as an Education Presenter. However, I had to have foot surgery in June and wasn't allowed to run for 6 months. Christmas Day was the 6th month mark so I am excited to try and get back into shape. It isn't going to be easy but I signed up for my first runDisney event to help motivate me. My goal is to try and "run" all of it. Which is more like, try not to walk no matter how slow you go! Inaugural Star Wars Dark Side 10k here I come!

2. Reading. I used to read a lot. A LOT. In college I only read for pleasure in the summers but would fly through books. However, since I graduated college I have read 3 books. Isn't that sad that I know exactly what 3 books that I read?!?! So I want to try and read a book a month. It doesn't sound like a lot but I figure I need to make a reasonable goal or else I won't stick to it. I am currently reading the 3rd book in the Kingdom Keepers series (which might tell you what 2 of the 3 books I have read since graduation were :) ). I actually read half of it but stopped in May so I tried picking up where I left off and had no idea what was happening. So here goes to January's book!

3. Get 10,000 steps a day. I should be able to hit this easy on days I am running (see goal number 1!) My mom got the whole family Fitbit's for Christmas so I want to try and hit 10,000 steps a day. On days that I miss the step goal I have to make up double those steps some other point during the year. I have a spreadsheet to track this and everything ;) I work a sedentary job now and between a desk job and not being able to exercise post-foot surgery I have gained a little weight. I am trying not to make drastic changes, but right now just work on making a few better life choices and hope that it all works out. :) 

4. Spend more time outside. I live in Florida for crying out load! I feel like I spend so much time inside so I want to actually use my patio or apartment complex pool, even if it is just to read. I want to go walking and see nature (and get 10,000 steps in) I don't want to for granted the vacation state that I live in and explore a bit more.

5. Craft more. I love to craft and even have a sowing machine. I haven't been good about it lately and still have to finish my smashbook for my first PI (oops!), so I want to at least finish that this year. I may have brought my sowing machine with me to Florida, but forgot supplies and have been too lazy/cheap to buy them so I just need to go get it and make stuff! I also consider coloring and doing puzzles crafts in a way so I will do those, too.

I think that these are the main ones. I am of course trying to do other things like eat healthier, be better about cleaning, etc. I actually have been really good over the last year and a half at budgeting so I want to keep being good at that and perhaps make some additional student loan payments. But overall these are goals that I think are good for me to be intentional in adding to my life. They are all things that I like to do but have been neglectful so I need to make sure I included them because I think they are good lifelong habits that I can make measurable progress with! If you made any resolutions, I wish you good luck! 

PI Timeline

So when I have been reading Disney College Program and Disney Professional Internship Blogs for a couple of years now. I even debated doing a CP or PI during a semester during college but couldn't find the time without delaying graduation. When I actually applied this semester I decided not to do a blog and just make a SmashBook to remember my experiences. However, as the time gets closer to my internship check-in I have been reading blogs again and decided that others might find this information useful. I also thought it would be a good place to get more of my thoughts down than I could in my SmashBook. I might decide to post pictures as I complete pages in my book, too.

To start out I will just give the timeline I experienced and will then spend the time leading up to my check-in going into more detail about the process.


Fall 2014 Professional Internships
28 Feb 14- Applied for 3 Animal Programs positions (Education Presenter, Chemistry, Reproductive Biology) and an Agriculture Sciences Biotechnology position  (on the last day apps were open!)
4 Mar 14- "Application Received" email from Animal Programs email w/ request for additional materials (1 Cover Letter and Questionnaires for each position) due within 24hrs
5 Mar 14- Submitted additional materials for the Animal Programs Positions
6 Mar 14-"Biotechnology Application Received" email from WDW EPCOT Science Internships w/ request for additional materials (cover letter, letter of recommendation, transcripts) due by March 14th
             -"Incomplete Application for Disney's Agricultural Sciences" catch-all email
               -"Application Complete" email from Animal Programs team
            -Decided not to proceed with Biotechnology application
10 Mar 14- Email request to schedule a phone interview
13 Mar 14- Reminder that Biotechnology material due by the next day
14 Mar 14- Montage Interview Information Email     

15 Mar 14- Montage Video Interview for Education Presenter
               -"Thank you for participating in a Montage Interview" email

17 Mar 14- Email from Chemistry Manager for Interview

18 Mar 14- Background check email
19 Mar 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Reproductive Biology 
24 Mar 14- Chemistry Internship Phone Interview
9 April 14- Request to Schedule "Brief Phone Call"
10 April 14- Education Presenter Offer Phone Call!!! 
                -Congratulations email!
12 April 14- Accepted offer
                -Request for Additional Information Email
                -Welcome to the Team Email
13 April 14-Signed up for Company Sponsored Housing
16 April 14- Invitation to join Animal, Science, and Environment Yammer Group
                -Long informational email about my internship from department
21 April 14- Another NLIC email for Reproductive Biology
               - "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Chemistry
22 April 14- Invitation to join Disney Professional Internship Yammer Group
29 April 14- "Thank you for your Interest" NLIC for Biotechnology
4 May 14- New Hire Portal Instructions (2 separate emails for username and password)
7 May 14-DORMS registration  (2 separate emails for username and password)
             - DORMS roommate linking confirmation
9 May 14- Email with Casting Time for Check-In day
15 May 14- Invitation for Animal Programs Welcome Gathering
11 June 14- Check-in!


Wow! That was a lot longer than I thought it would be, but I thought others might think a detailed response would be helpful. Here are my past applications if you want to get an idea of how other Disney positions work. If you have any questions about these applications, feel free to ask!



Summer 2013 ESPN Statistics and Information Application Timeline
28 Dec 12- Application submitted
              -"Thank you for applying" email
2 Jan 13- Assessment request (had to take a Sports Knowledge Assessment)
Eventually went No Longer in Consideration (NLIC) on dashboard but didn't get an email

Fall 2013 Disney College Program
26 Feb 13- Application submitted
              -"Thank you for applying" email
              -Web Based Interview Request
              -Telephone Interview Request
              -Telephone Interview Confirmation
5 Mar 13-Telephone Interview
6 Mar 13- "Thank you for Interviewing" Email
8 Mar 13- Accepted as a Lifeguard
                 Ended up turning down position.