Alyssa , 8th Grade student/ Reno, Nevada asked Kim Wheeler, Abbott AddedMonday, November 14, 2016 at 9:07 PM What can I start doing now to prepare for this future career? Hi Kim, This is Alyssa, I am an eighth grader at Depoali middle school. I have always loved math and science and have decided to be an engineer for Disney. What can I start doing now to prepare for this future career? Does Disney have any programs that I can look into to get a head start? How would I apply to be a Disney engineer when it is time? What are task I can do everyday to be the best engineer in the future? Finally, what advice can you give me and other girls in my position to take a career pathway in math, science, and technology? Related to Choosing a Degree, Internships & Jobs, Mechanical, Preparation for College Reset Sort By Default Kim Wheeler , Abbott Answered Sunday, January 29, 2017 at 4:32 AM Good morning, Alyssa! Its great to know what you want to do at such a young age, I had no idea what I wanted to do when I was your age. If you have a FIRST robotics program at your school, I would highly recommend participating in it. You want to get as much hands on and learning experiences as you can. However, make sure you enjoy life and have fun too! When you are in college, I would highly recommend applying for the Disney College Program. You can search online for information and find it. The best advice I can give you is to have courage. If you have the courage to do well in classes and in everything you do, you will be successful. Kim Wheeler , Abbott Answered Monday, November 14, 2016 at 9:07 PM Hi Alyssa, Thank you for your questions! You seem like you are already on the right path by setting a goal and reaching for it! I would recommend getting as much hands on experience as you can while you are in High School and in College. Try the FIRST robotics program http://www.firstinspires.org/robotics/frc or local SWE events that do design and building competitions. Try to figure out which type of engineer you would like to be. Mechanical? Industrial? Electrical? there are so many types out there and once you figure out which one you love the most, try to pursue activities that help develop those skills. Disney does have programs for college students such as the College Program and the Professional Internship program. You can find them here: http://cp.disneycareers.com/en/default/ You can browse this website to learn what these programs are and what they are for. You can also browse the Disney Careers website to see what type of jobs and qualifications we look for in the jobs you are interested in. That way you can set yourself up for success! In the future, the best engineers are those who continue to ask questions. As Walt Disney said "We keep moving forward because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths". Ask as many questions as you can, shadow people and learn about what they do, and absorb everything they have to say. Good luck!