A New Beginning

Here is a disclaimer to start me off...its been a LONG time since I have updated this, but I was reading an old friend's blog and got some inspiration to write, especially as I am still adjusting to this new stage of life I am entering.  

A quick update, I graduated nearly 1 month ago from The University of Central Missouri, with my Bachelors of Science in Child and Family Development.  A lot happened within this last semester, with perhaps the biggest highlight being that I was accepted for a Child Life Internship at St. Louis Children's Hospital.  First off, St. Louis Children's Child Life Internship was literally my dream from the start of this crazy journey to becoming a Child Life Specialist.  Having my Practicum completed over the summer, completing my last semester of college, and gaining my Internship the Spring after was my plan all along, and honestly, I wasn't sure if it was all going to work out in my time.  But with lots of faith, late night essay writing, and many adventures to the post office, it finally became all a reality.  That Thursday in October quickly became the day that would catapult me into this (CRAZY) world of adulthood.  So now, as a college graduate, who starts her Internship on Monday, here is my reflection on what's changing.

They tell you, once you graduate college that your life will change, which I didn't believe, until I actually saw my next chapter unfolding.  First off, I had to do exit loan counseling (which is basically a nice way of the government telling me when I have to start paying them back..I won't get on that soapbox).  Then, its been little things here and there, like getting scrub pants for work and seeing my friends packing up and returning to school, while I get to chill here.  It feels strange now to be having lunch and dinner with friends who I saw 7 days a week at school, but now I won't see many of them until they come home for Spring Break.  Moving back home has sure been nice though...(I get good food for free (plus more!)...thanks mom and dad <3).

Lastly, God has placed this thought on my heart, especially as I begin this Internship.  The thought is, that despite my anxieties, fears of failure, and misconceptions, he has already laid out every single patient and family I hope to impact during my Internship.  He knows what patients and families will have an impact on me as well, who will remind me of why I chose Child Life, and professionals who will encourage me along the way (because He knows that I will need a lot of it!).  He knows what journeys will be more difficult for me to handle than others, and He knows who will help me get through them.  As I begin this Internship, I have faith that I will succeed in this, and I am beyond excited to start.

Sending Pixie Dust your way,
Hope

P.S. I hope to be updating this more, along with a post completely devoted to what Child Life is and all the AMAZING, INCREDIBLE things Child Life Specialists do for patients and families!  

Home

     When I ask Siri to take me home, she doesn't take me down Hwy 70 to an exit where I make a few more turns and I'm home, no she takes me to down Hwy 70, to Hwy 64 to begin my journey east towards Louisville, then taking a turn south towards Nashville, to Chattanooga, and then entering Georgia.  From there I drive across the state passing through Atlanta, till all of a sudden, I hit the palm trees.  After a while I get on I-4 and now I am on the home stretch.  Well...you get the point.  My home, yes, is still the place I've grown up for the past 20 years on the same street, in the same room, but its not where my heart lies.  No, my heart lies 10 minutes from where I called home for 4 1/2 months.  Yes, Walt Disney World.  My memories lay in the pictures, my CP memory box, and my name tag.  The work you do as a Cast Member for the Walt Disney World Resort, is definitely hard, but its hard, loving, MAGICAL work.  I am honored to have been a Walt Disney World Cast Member.  In just my few short months I was able to honor Walt Disney's legacy by carrying out his dream...to make Disney "The Happiest Place on Earth".

     I hope one day soon, I will get the chance to travel back home.  Back to the place where I could be me, my bright personality, and where I could make a difference in a guest's day.  They say a lot of us don't do it for the money (i mean the money is decent), but i'd much rather work for nothing then be unable to experience all the things I did as a Cast Member.  The joy I received day in and day out was something that I didn't truly focus on a whole lot after 5 minutes, but just by being in the moment I was able to to love what I was doing again and again.  The hugs, kisses, laughter, Happy Birthday's, the Orioles fans (because when the STL Cards weren't in the World Series, I had to root for my birthplace), Jersey week (because who doesn't like to meet a million people from New Jersey and ask if they were from where my folks grew up), and my brothers and their wives surprising me at work were some of the best moments that I can't replace and will never forget.  It was in these moments that a home was formed that might not have been where I expected it to be, but where I know I will have one for a lifetime.

     So, now you are probably wondering, 'well what the heck Hope?! You grew up in Missouri, this is your home, not some theme park.'  Well you are right, I grew up here, had an amazing childhood, so why wouldn't I want to stay?  Trust me I love it here, but my heart lies in Disney and that's not ever going to change.

May The Force be with you my fellow Jedi's,

Hope