MyLine:Cover Story
A Germanna student is getting a Disney education in Orlando.
Date published: 4/4/2006
By TAMIKA TAYLOR
YOUTH CORRESPONDENT
EE MARTIN WOULDN'T be offended if you called him Goofy.
Why? Well, Goofy is his favorite cartoon character, and the 20-year-old Germanna Community College student has interned at Walt Disney World since last spring.
The idea to work for Disney came to Martin when he was in the marching band at Massaponax High School, and the group performed at Epcot.
Since then, it's always been on his mind.
He thought about maybe trying to manage a store or being a teacher. He even worked at The Free Lance-Star.
But he found he had the most fun when he toiled at Paramount's Kings Dominion.
So he decided to enroll in the Disney Theme Parks & Resorts College Program.
First, Martin worked in the merchandise line at the Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment area of Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.
He tackled various jobs, including manning a cash register, training other employees, stocking shelves, and performing inventory and auditing duties.
Since Jan. 8, he's been a merchandise manager at the Disney Port Orleans resorts, a job that was much harder to land.
Normally, this type of position would have gone to someone with more experience, but Martin applied and was accepted over more than 200 other applicants.
"I get a salary now, some perks, keys to the store(s)," he said in an e-mail.
There's also an educational component.
"I attend classes each week that teach me things from time management to communication, discipline, recognition and more everything that I will need to be a successful leader not only at Disney but almost anywhere," he said. "I have a lot of responsibilities that I didn't have before now, as well."
The program's college component provides training that it says is akin to any regular college education, with the added bonus of working for one of the biggest names in entertainment.
And until June, he gets to work in a place that reminds him of some of his favorite entertainment.
He particularly enjoys Disney movies such as "Chicken Little," "Remember the Titans," "Toy Story," "Monsters Inc." and "Bedknobs and Broomsticks."
"Really, I like them all," he said, "those just happen to come to mind at the moment."
Oh, and back to Goofy.
Why does Martin like him, when, say, Mickey Mouse is much better known?
"I see a lot of him in me," he said. "He never sees anyone as being 'bad,' nor do I. We really are similar."
For more information about the Disney college program, visit wdwcol legeprogram.com.
TAMIKA TAYLOR is a sophomore at Mountain View High School.
Date published: 4/4/2006
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