From Denny’s to Disney: Meet the ITC graduate chasing her Disney dreams

ITC graduate Sharon Beardsmore exploring Alaska with her travel kiwi. Sharon is now living and working at Disney World.

Just a few months ago, Sharon Beardsmore was working as a waitress at Denny’s while she saved for the trip of a lifetime.

Now, Sharon is living and working at Disney World in Orlando, Florida – a childhood dream come true.

We caught up with Sharon just before she left to Disney to learn about her studies at ITC, her passion for travel, and what the future has in store.

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ITC sees off Disney students with special morning tea

Disney World here they come! These excited ITC students will start their Disney Cultural Exchange Program next month. ITC put on a special morning tea today to celebrate their upcoming trip.

Last month, ITC received the exciting news that 14 talented graduates have been accepted to participate in the Disney Cultural Exchange Program.

The graduates are heading to Disney World in August to live and work at the amazing Disney Resort, where they’ll gain valuable work experience and meet other exchange participants from around the world.

Today, the College put on a special Disney Morning Tea to celebrate.

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How to achieve your dreams – according to ITC graduate Charlotte Roberts-Swain

An inspiration to her peers, ITC graduate Charlotte Roberts-Swain loves travelling and working in tourism.

Charlotte Roberts-Swain knows a thing or two about turning dreams into reality. Since graduating from ITC in December 2014, she’s worked on superyachts and at Disney World – and this is just the beginning of her exciting tourism career.

She’s currently travelling in Indonesia, but she generously took some time to write to us about her experience so far. Below she shares some advice for people looking to follow in her footsteps.

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ITC graduate gets her ‘Disney Ears’

Taryn Brown, a former ITC student, recently graduated from the Disney World Cultural Exchange Program.

Exactly 8 months ago to the day, ITC graduate Taryn Brown received the good news that she was off to Disney World for the work experience trip of a lifetime.

Participating in the Disney Cultural Exchange Program has been a goal of Taryn’s since she started studying tourism at ITC. After much hard work and determination, in August she found herself on a plane to Orlando – her dream was coming true.

Now, many new friends and amazing memories later, Taryn has graduated from the program and received her ‘Disney Ears’.

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My Disney Experience

Jordana (in the green and black dress) with friends and Donald Duck at Disney World, Orlando

ITC Graduate Jordana Grace has been living and working at Disney World, Orlando for the past six months. As her adventure comes to an end, she reflects on the amazing experience.

If someone came up and told me a year ago when I started at ITC, that when you finish there you will have a job at Disney World, I probably would have laughed at them and been like yeah right. But that all changed when I found a job vacancy on the notice board that said they were looking for people to apply for the Disney college program so I decided that I would go for it. (more…)

Thank you Disney World!

Cara Adams has been living and working at Disney World since graduating from ITC. Here she is pictured in her costume for the ‘Honey I Shrunk the Kids’ playground.

ITC graduate Cara Adams has been living and working at Disney World for the past year. What a journey it has been! She shares some of her favourite memories as she prepares to fly back home to New Zealand.

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