 "Photo: Courtesy of Amy Eason")
Amy Eason
Graduated: May 2007
Major: International Business
UT graduate Amy Eason's 4.0 GPA and spot on the dean's list might not make her the most likely candidate for her job as an entertainer at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. She graduated in May 2007 with an international business degree, but opted to funnel her energy elsewhere and fulfill a lifelong dream. Eason shared her theme park experiences with The Daily Texan and how she went from graduating with a business degree to working at Disney World.
Daily Texan: What do you enjoy most about being a Walt Disney World entertainment performer?
Amy Eason: You know how you see the little kids on the commercials? That's all real. It's just amazing how something so simple can make someone so happy. I don't think business majors need to have an accounting job with a $70,000 salary right out of college. I have huge job satisfaction.
DT: Is your job something you have wanted to do for a while?
Eason: I am doing my dream. I've wanted to work for Disney since I was 3. When I was about 7, I used to talk about how someday I would 'own' Disney. I want to pursue international marketing with Disney, and this is opening a door for me. In fact, the current Disney vice president started selling popcorn at the amusement park.
DT: Were you involved in theater in college?
Eason: I was in high school theater and drama, but throughout college, I was mostly involved with vocal performance. I had to audition for the part of entertainer, and yeah, it was hard. The only thing that really took some getting used to though was all the make-up.
DT: How did your parents feel about your decision to do something outside of your major?
Eason: They are very supportive, and they've known that working with Disney has been my dream since I was a little girl. They've come to see me at work and they've seen how happy I am, and they know that being an entertainer is not necessarily my career path; it's something I'll always look back on and cherish.
DT: What did your experiences at UT teach you?
Eason: I got very used to having to please different types of people, which I also learned from being in a sorority. I can use that here, because you get guests from all over the world, and you see so many different people. It's like how professors want different things in college. You have to learn to please everyone. You have to learn to deal.
DT: What sorts of activities or organizations were you involved in during your time at UT?
Eason: I was in a sorority, Kappa Delta, and I tutored at an elementary school. I was a member of the Women in Business Association, and I was involved in a lot of activities in the
French department.
DT: Do you have any advice for UT students based on your experiences at Walt Disney World?
Eason: Do you what makes you happy. The McCombs School of Business likes to preach about jobs that will get you money, but I think it's better to wake up and be excited about what you're about to do. People need to know that your level and financial security aren't the No. 1 priorities.
Eason said she could not reveal her specific Disney character because it could jeopardize her job and what she calls the "magic" of Walt Disney World.
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