I learned in Sociology last year that everyone is connected through six degrees of separation. The theory is that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, through introduction, from any other person in the world, like a chain that is "A friend of a friend of a friend knows..." I know, for a fact, that I'm about three degrees away from Colin O'Donoghue, and I know someone who's actually a neighbor of Harrison Ford. It's a ridiculous chain, and I like to think that somehow, someway, that's how I'll get to meet some of my favorite people someday.
What's really funny is when people I do know find other people I know and they meet aside from me. Today that happened. My cousin met someone on the bus, whom happened to go to high school with me. Now, I'm not friends with everyone necessarily, but in a smaller high school you kind of get to know everyone, at least a little bit. At the very least you know of them.
So I get this text from my cousin today telling me she met this person on the bus, and then tweeted about how the person mentioned me and Disney. It's not surprising to any of us that that's what she associated me with. I mean, seriously, I am the Disney person. I'm not the only Disney person, but I'm definitely known for it. I'm perfectly alright with that because there are lot of worse things to be known for, and I'm super glad I stayed away from those things. But it's sort of funny at the same time, just to be known as the Disney person and have people meet my family outside of school and still associate that with me. Because let's be real, I probably look like I sit down and do this:
That seems like a fairly accurate statement. Turns out I bring Disney into the lives of people even when I'm no where to be found, and that seems like a pretty good accomplishment to me.
Yesterday marked the opening of the newest attraction at Disneyland, Fantasy Faire. Now, I don't visit Disneyland very often...I've only been there once compared to the 23 trips to Disney World, but I am super excited about this expansion. Why...Flynn. Rider.
A few years ago Flynn was in the parks greeting guests...and then they got rid of him, meaning that he's still not around in Florida. What's one of my dreams? MEETING FLYNN. It's awful hard to do such a thing when Flynn is no where to be found. But it seems to me that Flynn will be making regular apperances at Fantasy Faire at Disneyland...meaning that my only hope of ever meeting him is there.
Granted, first I either have to make it to nationals for FBLA or work really hard to convince my dad to take us on a trip out to California (I'm hoping for option One), but hopefully I will eventually get to meet Flynn. I mean, you can meet Naveen, so why not Eugene!?!
It gets confusing sometimes because he has two names...random I know, but true.
Anyway, for more info on Fantasy Faire, here's a video from The Disney Geek:
And here's today's Disney History: 1928: On a train ride back to California from New York City (with his wife Lillian), Walt Disney sends his brother and business partner Roy a Western Union telegram that reads: Leaving Tonite stopping over KC arrive home Sunday Morning Seven Thirty Don't worry Everything ok will give details when arrive Walt. This is in reference to the fact that although the Disney brothers have probably lost their animated creation Oswald the Rabbit to Charles Mintz, Walt has a new idea for an animated mouse character.
Today was my regional FBLA competition. I know I talked briefly about it the other day, but since today was the actual competition and it largely involved Disney for me, I figured I'd talk about it a little more.
I participate in Public Speaking II, which means I write a speech, memorize it and then present it to a group of judges. This is my third and final year in FBLA, and I'm more determined to go to nationals than ever. Why? Because it's in a little city called Anaheim, California...which just happens to be the location of Disneyland. I have been excited about it for quite a while...and I really want to make it to nationals. At the moment though, I really want to focus on state and getting to finals. One step at a time. One step at a time.
But anyway, we don't have a lot of guidelines for writing this speech, other than it needs to include an FBLA goal and be centered on Business. This year, since it is my final year, I decided to do a speech on just how much FBLA has impacted me. I don't want to talk too much about the content here though, just in case someone out there is reading...but it does center largely around how FBLA has changed me as a person and has helped me in my decision to become an Imagineer. Of course, it's a challenging occupation but basically because of FBLA I am prepared to do whatever it takes to reach that goal.
And so, I ended up recieving first place, and that means I'm going to state competition. I won first place the last two years as well at the regional level, once in Public Speaking I and once in Public Speaking II, and at state I got 1st in public speaking I and 5th in Public speaking II. Overall pretty successful I think. I'm exciting to be headed to state for my third year, and I can't wait to continue work on my speech and make it the best it can be.
Here's today's Disney History: 2006: Disney announces that the Disneyland and Disney World Pirates of the Caribbean attractions will be undergoing a 3-4 month makeover to work in character and plot elements from the movie series that took its inspiration from the original attraction. (The attraction now features Jack Sparrow, Mermaids and several other elements of the film series).
I'm going to talk more about this in Saturday's post, but today I was practicing my speech for my FBLA competition. FBLA, for those that don't know, stand for Future Business Leaders of America...and I will be competing this Saturday at the Regional competition in Public Speaking II. As I said, I'll talk more about this on Saturday, but at the moment I figured I'd talk about something I mention in my speech.
I talk in my speech about my want to be an Imagineer, and in order to explain what that is and why I want to pursue that career, I needed to explain my background with Disney. So, I refer to myself as the term of "Disney Geek." I don't know how many people have heard of Disney Geek, but it's a thing put on by the official Disney fanclub, D23. My dad became a member a few years ago when we found the D23 convention would be going on when we traveled to Disneyland...and I learned about Disney Geek not long before that. It's a podcast and honestly just a whole bunch of stuff...including videos and just a lot of awesome. I don't have a lot of time to watch it all the time, but I do suggest you at least check it out if you love Disney...and D23 is awesome too! I really hope to attend the D23 Expo this upcoming August as well.
Click here to be taken to the Disney Geek website.
Today was our first day of finals for the semester, and the day I presented that Psych project I was talking about last week. As I said on that last post, we had to choose one song to present to the class...why we chose it, for what event, and the psychology concept that went along with it.
Originally I was going to present with "Life is a Highway" by Rascal Flatts...but another person in my class chose that song and in a last minute, spur of the moment, decision...I changed my presentation song to "Promise." If you know your Disney music well...you'll know that "Promise" is the song that plays each and every night after "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth" at Epcot, and that it's a very well written and beautiful song.
Basically here's what I said:
"The song I chose was "Promise," Originally sung by Kellie Coffey for the Epcot Millennium Celebration. I related this song and event to the concept of "memories" because I have so many different and unique memories from my trips to Florida throughout the years. But of them all, most of my first real memories come from the Millennium Celebration.
I know that my dream of becoming an Imagineer is probably farfetched to some. It is even to me sometimes, and I know that it will take very hard work to get there...and along the way I will be viewed by some as childish. But it's something I want to do with my life. I want to become a part of the magic and make memories for other people the same way cast members have made memories for me throughout my entire life. But I think the most rewarding part of it all is that while most people will fall into a job that they dislike or become unsatisfied with, I will be doing something I love for the rest of my life. And the truth is, Disney has taught us all. While Disney movies may have Princesses or talking animals, they are also uplifting, give us chills, fill us with hope, and bring us to tears. They teach us responsibility, show us true strength, keep us youthful and make us think. Disney movies leave us laughing and prove there's true love, remind us to dream and give us imagination to be proud of. And if you don't believe me...I suggest you go watch the Disney-Pixar movie "Up."
Every day of my life I will face people looking at me differently because of my love of Disney, there's no question about that in my mind. People will judge, and while I sometimes wish they would stop and listen to my entire story before labeling me "childish," the chances of that happening are very slim. But because this is what I want to do, I will always break free and travel over the roughest of roads. I am a survivor and a dreamer. I am the person I want to be."
After that we listened to the song, but I guess the real reason I'm blogging about this right now is a comment my teacher made after the class. We ran over, and my best friend still had to present, so even though I had musical in a few minutes I waited for her to present...and as I was walking over to throw away a sheet of paper in the recycling bin, my teacher said "I don't think it's childish."
I think you really have to know my teacher to understand how much this really means...but basically he's one of those teachers that likes to make jokes and stuff. We make jokes all the time about my love of Disney (in fact about three came up during our 1 1/2 hour class today), and it doesn't bother me one bit. In fact, the reason I decided on this topic for my presentation is because we have a judgmental class that tends to make comments about how all of my presentations somehow relate back to Disney. But either way, this was just one of those moments where he was completely serious. The last five minutes I'm in his classroom and he makes a comment like that.
Sure, it was only five words, but for some reason that I can't exactly make out, it meant a lot to me. I've been thinking about it all day actually. I guess maybe it's because it's good to know that while my dreams may seem farfetched, and to some, childish, there are still people that believe in me. There's also the fact that I completely showed everyone up by representing the entire theme of the project and the class as a whole within a two minute speech, but I am constantly working to bring the best and more to my projects...so I don't see anything different there. Maybe it was the approval, about how while the rest of the class (other than my best friend) slacked off on this final, I didn't and I took it to heart. Or maybe it was the personal connection I made...about how this song really meant a lot to me and I had a good reason for why...when other people chose random songs that just had lyrics to go along with it.
I honestly have no idea why those last five minutes of psychology class meant so much to me...but they did. And someday, when I do get to be an Imagineer, I can guarantee you I will send an email to that teacher and tell him that I accomplished my dream...and thank him for believing in me even when others don't.
