Fireworks!

Working at Magic Kingdom is a blast! I am lucky to be working in Out Door Vending for so many reasons! First, I have the best coworkers! They are rediculously nice and exceptionally funny. Second, I work outside, and get to interact with guests all day long. Third, I get bounced around from popcorn cart to popcorn cart, so I get variety in my day! I can think of so many more, but that's just three. 

Working anywhere, your attitude dictates how much you enjoy your job. There is always going to be something not to like, and if you let yourself be negative, you will be miserable. I work to stay positive and it makes all the difference in how much fun I have working.

This week I have been spending my free time in the parks. Yesterday I went to Epcot and just walked through the countries. In China there was an amazing acrobatics show, that I caught the end of after eating Mongolian style beef and noodles, that I will have to go back and see.

Later while waiting for the fireworks, I discovered a croissant doughnut with ice-cream! I'm sure if they gave you a knife instead of just a plastic fork, that there would be a graceful way to eat it, but both my friend and I found that the easiest way is to just bite into it and eat it like a doughnut. The ice-cream melts all over and I felt like a sticky little kid again. Once I found a sink, it was easy to clean up. The doughnut was flakey and came apart in layers. 

While waiting for the fireworks, I was able to see Hollywood studios' fireworks they were beautiful! Then the Epcot show finally came on and it was breathtaking! Water spouts, lights, lasers, flame thrower and fireworks!

I was also able to make it to Magic kingdom to see Wishes! Overall it was a spectacular night!

Casting Disney Program!

So... Magical moments... I'M WORKING FOR DISNEYWORLD!
The first day was crazy! I made quite a few new friends. It is very cold in the morning, especially for a Southern California girl.

I made friends as I checked in. Everyone is super nice and friendly! I loved meeting people who were a lot like me in personality everywhere I went. At check in I got my housing ID, got my key, found out my role (Magic Kingdom!), and found out my apartment number.

Then my new friends and I went to casting!

At casting I met Kent! One of the original cast members and one of the founders of the Disney College Program! I even got to shake his hand!

I also met Randy Gonzales who works with internships and he was super funny, but I don't have a picture.

Afterward I went to my new apartment! So far all my roommates are really awesome and I look forward to this semester.

Practicing Families

Original Photo from Pixabay

Bruce Lee was stating a principle when he said this quote.  What we continually practice is what we achieve.  Goals need to be specific if we want to achieve them.  It is important not to forget the basics of whatever we do.  The best musicians are the ones who are exceptional at the basics.  They practice their scales and arpeggios day after day.  The best artists practice their brush strokes or pencil strokes or the basic form of any medium they work in. 

For society to flourish, it needs to work on its basics.  The family is the basic unit of society.  Families are being choked out by media, government policies, societal messages, laziness and fear.  As a result families and societies are facing increased challenges.

People who join gangs, when interviewed as to why they join, say they are looking for a sense of belonging, it feels like a family.  If we promoted the strength of families, perhaps these people wouldn’t have to go looking elsewhere for that belonging. Fewer people in gangs would mean less gang violence.  Families can increase unity by doing things together.  One thing I have noticed that improves the vibe in the home is family dinner.  People who have family dinner together get to know one another as people.  Then when conflicts come up, they aren’t as big of deal, partially because there is more balance between positive and negative experiences.

National statistics prove a correlation between single parenthood and income.  If families are making less money and have less time, they have less ability to contribute to society.  The more stable families in society, the more likely it is for people to give back.  If there was more of a focus on marriage being something you work at for the rest of your life, instead of something you grow out of, then there would be fewer broken families.  Especially harmful is the idea of a “starter marriage.”  This is a marriage you enter into without the expectation of staying.

There is also a trend of younger families taking on more debt than they used to.  People who borrow money from the government/banks and can’t pay it back contribute to the national debt.  People who are self-sufficient improve the world around them.  People can avoid this by avoiding debt where possible.  Buying a house you can afford, not needing the next best thing, and keeping to the bare necessities where necessary. In short, you can do this by living within your means and spending less than you make.

There are many things we could do to try to help society.  By far the most effective way to improve society will be to improve families.

Three Things You Need to Do to Improve Yourself

1. Experiment and make mistakes

Especially before you graduate and start getting paid in money.  Take the opportunity to fail often, so that you can succeed more. Michael Jordan said, "I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed."

2. Challenge yourself

If you don't challenge yourself, you aren't learning and growing.  One way to challenge yourself is to look at the work of someone you admire, and imitate it.  Do this with several people.  In music, the more variety of music you listen to and create the more well-rounded your voice gets.  Or you can at least pick and choose what you like and don't like.  It's the same with whatever else you want to do.

3. Love what you do

If you don't love what you do, improve something else.  If you're stuck in a dead end job, do something you love on the side.  Preferably something that gives you fulfillment.

Seven Things Every Designer Needs

   1. Look for opportunities to do real world experience

(Jobs on campus, pro bono, freelance, multiple internships, travel classes, ect.) Entering competitions is a good way to increase credibility and skills.

     2. Create a portfolio website

It needs to load quickly, immediately entertain/impress, and be easy to navigate. “Simple design lets your work shine.”- Brad Woodard, Designer/Illustrator at Brave the Woods.

     3. Start a blog

This boosts your credentials as long as you keep it focused, and stay consistent.  One way to use it is to reach out to professionals who know more than you do “I have a blog and my readers want to know…” You can also guest blog.

     4. Brush up your writing skills

Honestly, writing is so important.  Make sure you edit.  Nothing kills credibility faster than grammatical and spelling errors. 

     5. Share your work online

Using online platforms increases the odds of your work being seen.  It increases your audience, and the more people who see your art, the more potential for someone to have interest in your art.

     6. Don’t get discouraged

Remember where you’ve been and track your progress.

     7. Network

Networking has almost become a bad word in the business world.  Reach out to everyone, everywhere.  It always helps to have a business card on hand.  There are some sites that you can get 250 for $10. 

Bamboo Tablet Review

Wacom Bamboo Splash Pen Tablet (CTL471)

I got this for Thanksgiving.  I've been using it ever since.  It is really nice, it makes graphic design much easier.  Something that surprised me was I thought it work like a mouse where you could scroll.  It's more like an actual drawing pad.  Each point on the tablet correlates with part of the screen and you draw that way.  

Out of Trials Come Triumphs

The thing I've learned from unrequited love is that I can love, even when things aren't going the way I want.  It is because of these people that I have no fear that I can make that part of a relationship work.  There are other parts that I need to work on, but I am confident in my ability to love.