Monica Yuk has loved Disney for as long as she can remember. Last fall, she got to live a Disney lover’s dream – interning at the most magical place on earth, Walt Disney World.
Yuk, a Communication junior at MSU, wasn’t always sure what she wanted to do for her career, but was drawn to the Disney College Program flyers she saw posted around campus. The program, she learned, was designed to help interns develop transferrable skills such as problem solving, team work, customer service and communication. Interns also explore career and professional development through classroom learning opportunities. Yuk decided to apply to the program, and, after a number of interviews, was accepted in to the Fall 2015 intern class.
One of the highlights of the program for Yuk was a marketing seminar.
“Our marketing seminar sessions consisted of guest speakers from different departments in Disney Marketing,” she said. “We were responsible for a group project throughout the seminar and would incorporate what we learned from each guest into our project.”
In addition to learning from Disney professionals and creating a project based on a real marketing strategy, the seminar allowed students to network with the professionals and gain further insight and connections.
This was a great opportunity for someone like Yuk, who hopes to work for Disney after graduation.
“I got to meet the most diverse, funniest, creative, hardworking and genuine people on the program,” Yuk said. “I plan on going back to the company and keeping connected with those I've became friends with. If you let someone know that you want to stay within the company, there are many ways for you to get in contact with the people you want to.
“Networking isn’t just a one-time thing. You should do more than introduce yourself once. When you reconnect, remember to give a firm shake, try to dress nicer, bring a notebook and pen to write down the things and advice they tell you, bring questions to ask, and ask who else you could get in touch with. Networking is not impossible. You just have to start.”
Yuk has been involved with a number of organizations here on campus. She helped out with the Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Protection Program, was the Co-Publicity Chair for the Asian Pacific Student Association, and she also worked for Booklify. She’s currently serving as the Vice President of Programming for MSU’s chapter of the Undergraduate Communication Association.
She said her favorite thing about being a Communication major has been the classes, especially COM 225.
“It’s very engaging in itself, and it makes you want to go to class,” she said, adding that her mentors in the class were very supportive and encouraged her to consider graduate school. “I really appreciated how much faith they had in me as a Communication major.”
Yuk encouraged her fellow students to take advantage of all the opportunities ComArtSci has to offer.
“I definitely appreciate going through the Communication department and knowing there are opportunities out there,” she said. “And I’ve been at the ComArtSci Career Center a lot; they’ve always checked my resumes and cover letters.”
Her advice for those considering their own Disney College Experience: “The program isn't easy. It's life-changing.”
By ComArtSci Career Center Staff and Kelsey Block, Journalism and Arts and Humanities double major
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