My Florida Family!

In the words of Walt Disney, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them."

On November 6, 2007 I got a letter that changed my life. I was chosen to participate in the College Program at Walt Disney World. This was a dream of mine... I mostly wanted to go because I had a broken heart, didn't know where to go because I thought life was over? Where better than to go to Walt Disney World! The "happiest place on earth" right?


I started the most "magical" adventure of my life thus far on Jan. 28, 2008, the college program. I pulled in to Vista Way apartment and started to follow all these signs that had Mickey Mouse on them. I just thought to myself, here we go I can't even wait! This was the answer I was looking for all along. I kept looking around and EVERYONE was dressed up in a costume running towards the bus stop. Just made me more excited. I couldn't wait to see what my costume would look like. I got in line behind a girl from Utah State. I didn't know her before we just found each other in line. I was so nervous\excited to start the "magical adventure" I got my housing assignment and was well on my way.


Day two, My mommy left so I was really there to stay. I got up early to find out I would be working at the Emporium in the Magic Kingdom... Wow what is this place? Little did I know I was going to basically live there for the next seven months of my life. That night my roommates and I went to the Magic Kingdom to see Wishes!!! Only the best fireworks show ever!!! I went into the Emporium just to see what my costume would look like. I couldn't even move in there. I couldn't believe how many people fit in such a small place? I didn't know what to think of it... The costume was a little weird.... But I was just so excited to be there.
Fast forward to the middle of my college program, I really started to get to know the people I worked with. We would have to work until 2,3,4,5,6 in the morning. How can you not become best friends when you are together all the time? We all truly started to rely on each other. We didn't just work together anymore, we started to become a family. We learned all about each others lives and where we were from. Everyone thought I was a little weird because I was Mormon? They couldn't believe I was 21 and never drank before. We would hide in the stockrooms from the managers to procrastinate work. I also taught EVERYONE the Utah song! Now all of my fellow CP's can sing " Utah people working together, Utah what a great place to be" I would even bet now they miss me singing it to them?
I found my true love at the Emporium! The PLUSH wall. I would stock that wall every time I was on stock. I LOVED making it look prefect. One night after making my plush AMAZING I counted how many were on the wall. 4,642 Plush later we were done counting. Pretty crazy how two of us would stock the wall two maybe three times a night. Man I miss it now.The best part about the Emporium were the Krispy Kreme donuts we would get every night. David Lee was the delivery man. I of course became really good friends with him. We had a bond right from the beginning because my name has LEE in it and so does his. He was so sweet to bring us four dozen donuts a night. We would look forward to seeing him every night.(Probably the reason I gained weight in Florida but it was worth it.) The other great part about the Emporium is the soap opera you live in... there were SO many secrets in that place it was crazy. Not only between the cast but with the managers as well. I really at times felt like I was on Days of our Lives. It was the greatest! It just brought us all closer together.The saddest part about Florida that know one EVER told me about was saying goodbye to the ones you grow to love. You truly and deeply fall in love with EVERYTHING around you. There is not one thing I don't miss living in Florida. Every single one of the people there touch my life in one way or another. I am so grateful I got to know the people there. I think about it every single day. How lucky I was to be apart of "making the magic."My fellow CP I don't know what life would be without you. you all blessed my life. I am so lucky to have friends not only across the country but across the world. I learned so much from each other you. I got to know you all in such different ways. I feel like I could come to any of you for anything and you would be right there to help me. I am truly blessed to have all of you in my life. I am so glad we still stay in touch. I love being your friend!Ashley Pawlak, Megan Brennan, Emily Serres, Laura Kelly, Sam Bremer, Jess and Chelsea Irons, you girls are the girls I can't live with out. There is so many things I could say about each of you, I got to know all of you in a way that I will always remember. I am SO lucky to have gone to Florida and gotten to know each one of you! I turned to you in my hard times and my happy times. I believe in life everything happens for a reason, I know the reason I went to Florida was to meet all of you! I am so lucky that you all became like sisters to me! You are the friends I will cherish forever. Thank you for making me such a better person because of the people you are. I have known you for one year and I am so happy there are many more to come. I am so lucky that I get to talk to all of you still on a regular basis. Thank you for the best friends you are to me!!!



My older friends that worked in the Emporium that I got to know and love. They acted like I was their little girl. Beatrice, Miss Faye, and Nagan especially would always worry about me. I learned so many things I will never forget from these women about life and the expeirences they went through.

Florida will ALWAYS hold a special place in my heart. That is where I truly understood how to love people for who they are. I learned so much from every person I came in contact with. I learned every person has an incredible story about life, I was the lucky one who got to listen to them. I am so lucky to have been in Florida for eight months of my life, I will NEVER forget the memories I made there or the people I met! Thank you for being apart of my life! "Thanks for making the MAGIC!!!"