After a 4-day riveting all-expenses-paid trip to Walt Disney World, the new class of 2025 dreamers enjoyed their time in the magical universe. The Disney Dreamers Academy is a mentoring program at Walt Disney World Resort that inspires and empowers 100 high school students from diverse communities to pursue their career dreams.Ten Georgia Dreamers were selected to take part in the 18th annual Disney Dreamers Academy this year. Photo provided by Disney10 Atlanta-area dreamers were among the 100 Disney Dreamers who had the time of their lives. Dreamers also had opportunities to speak with this year’s “DREAMbassador”,  Tyler James Williams from ABC’s hit show “Abbott Elementary”.Throughout the program, Dreamers were able to participate in various activities such as a welcome rally, the Magic Kingdom Parade, empowerment sessions, a career expose/rotations, a “Pitch Your Power” workshop, the “Be 100 Makeover and Confidence Fashion Show with Motivational Speaker Lisa Nichols and Creative Director and Stylist Jerome Lamaar.All of the events were made to uplift, encourage, and empower the young minds of the dreamers to build unto the already budding talent.  Dreamers also had many opportunities to explore Disney’s parks such as Hollywood Studios, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom.The four-day event concluded with an emotional commencement ceremony that had just about everyone in happy tears. The room was full of joy and powerful emotions all around.Williams said he may not be a teacher in real life, just on TV, but he knows the power of mentorship and the connection of people who see the spark in the dreamers and want them to grow.Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta Voice“You’re all going to go out into the world and make big, incredible strides and it’s been so cool to watch the way your paths are already starting to take shape,” he said. “You meet people over time who pour and contribute into you. You’ve had the opportunity to meet so many incredible people this weekend and each one of them has touched your story.”Nichols said to not let one chapter define the rest of your chapters in life.“I realized when I was on government assistance and getting food stamps, it was simply a comma. Don’t put a period where God put a comma,” she said. “That next chapter, we talk about storytelling, your chapter four might have been difficult, your chapter five might have been filled with financial woes or emotional woes, but baby you still got the pen in your hand.”A freshman at Berkmar High School in Stone Mountain, Kylan Robinson said his favorite event was the empowerment hour and the welcome rally because he loved the band on the stage.“I really enjoyed the band because the sound was incredible,” he said.In 2017, he lost his father to gun violence, which inspired him to launch his first business, Swag Ky Bow Ties, becoming the youngest CEO in Little Rock.Robinson’s goal is to rebrand to incorporate advocacy for gun violence awareness and hope to use his many talents (basketball, acting, gaming, entrepreneurship, cooking, and more) to create an enterprise with purpose.Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta VoiceCiara Wimbush, who is a senior at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, said on day three she was still in shock about the entire experience, but has been nothing short of awesome and exceeded her expectations.“The fact that we’re only one day three of five is so crazy knowing there’s so much still in store for us,” she said. “I’m really excited to see what lies ahead and not just for the dreamers, but for the chaperones, reps, and everyone involved.”Tiyanna Shaheed-Merriweather, a junior at Uptopian Academy for the Arts High School in Morrow, said she hopes this experience builds her confidence more.“I don’t like speaking too much, but I hope it regains my confidence and allows me to further my career and figure out what I want to actually do with my career,” she said.For advice, Wimbush said to take a chance on yourself and apply.“You are in control of your own destiny and fate. If you have a great story to tell, if you have passion, don’t count yourself out before you even try,” she said.Chandra Wimbush, mother of Ciara Wimbush, said she is “completely amazed, blown away, blessed, and grateful”.“I cried when I found out Ciara was accepted into the Disney Dreamers Academy,” she said. “We opened the letter, and I just cried because I knew how much she really wanted this and how much her dad and I wanted this for her.”She also said the importance of the Disney Dreamers Academy for her is Sierra learning more about herself and delving more into what she really wants to do and who she wants to become.“She’s my baby and so for her to make inroads into where she wants to go, I’m really looking forward to what will come out of this for her,” she said. “I’m hoping she walks away with some really good nuggets of learning and understanding and have met some dynamic people.”Disney Dreamers Academy 2025 “DREAMbassador”,  Tyler James Williams from ABC’s hit show “Abbott Elementary”. Photo by Isaiah Singleton/The Atlanta VoiceAs far as advice for other parents to encourage their children to apply for this program, Winbush says be open and let them explore themselves. She said she had no knowledge of Disney Dreamers before Sierra told her about it and now she’s going home to tell other parents to investigate this opportunity.“I would tell them to step out of their comfort zones, try this opportunity because it may look like a long shot, but nothing is a long shot. All things are possible,” she said. “I would tell them to not only look at this opportunity, but other things that the kids can do. I think it can open a whole new world for them and their children.”Chasity Rolland, a sophomore at Luella High School from Locust Grove, said she really enjoyed Disney Dreamers and connecting with other people from different states.“It’s different schools, different cultures and we’ve all had a great time,” she said.Alonnah Copeland, senior at Blackstone Academy in Atlanta, said the career workshops were her biggest takeaways from the event because there were a lot of inspiration given to the Dreamers.“I was in the Law group for the career workshops and the lady taught us how to get into and pass law school. We did a little mock trial and icebreaker where we had to figure out different things about different people, she helped me a lot and I want to go into law because of the workshop,” she said.Rihana Tape, senior and full-time double-enrolled at Clayton State from Stockbridge said her advice to anyone who may want to apply, but feel like it’s a long shot, is to apply regardless because she didn’t think she’d get in.“You can get in; you can do it. Just be yourself and even if you don’t get in, there’s always opportunities for my underclassmen. You can still apply the next year,” she said. “It’s been an amazing experience.”The post Designer of Your Destiny: 2025 Disney Dreamers Academy concludes 18th year appeared first on The Atlanta Voice. ...read more read less