One Day at Disney: Helping Students See All They Can Be

The other day, I was visiting a friend, and we ended up having one of those conversations that sticks with you. Her daughter, an elementary school student, was telling me about school and casually mentioned something that made me pause. She said, “My classmates know I’m smart, but they’re surprised I’m also artistic.” That stopped me.

Because right there, in one sentence, she captured something so many of our students experience :the idea that they have to fit into one box. So I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up. Without hesitation, she said, “Something with science and art.”

And immediately, I thought, An Imagineer!

A World Where You Don’t Have to Choose

That moment reminded me of the series One Day at Disney. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a collection of short episodes that take you behind the scenes at Disney, highlighting real people in real jobs, from animators and engineers to animal care experts at Disney's Animal Kingdom. What makes it so powerful isn’t just the storytelling, it’s the representation of possibilities.

These are people who:

• Blend creativity and logic

• Use both art and science

• Follow paths that don’t fit into a single category

In other words, they are living examples of what so many of our students don’t yet realize: You don’t have to pick just one version of yourself.

The Counselor Clubhouse Take

Our students are constantly receiving messages, spoken and unspoken, about who they are and what they’re “supposed” to be good at.

• The “math kid”

• The “art kid”

• The “athlete”

• The “quiet one”

  
  

But real life doesn’t work that way. And if we want students to feel confident exploring their futures, we have to actively show them that:

• Interests can overlap

• Strengths can coexist

• Careers can look very different than they imagine

  
  

That’s where something like One Day at Disney becomes more than just a video, it becomes a window.

Bringing This Into the Classroom (Simple & Meaningful)

This doesn’t need to be a full lesson or a big production. In fact, the simplicity is what makes it work. Teachers and counselors can use these short videos as quick, high-impact career moments:

• Play a short episode during morning meeting, advisory, or as a transition

• Let students simply watch and notice

• Then ask one or two reflective questions like:

  • What surprised you about this job?

  • What skills did this person use?

  • What subjects in school connect to this career?

Over time, students begin to see patterns:

• Careers are not one-dimensional

• There are jobs they’ve never heard of

• Their interests might connect in ways they didn’t expect

You can even invite students to:

• Identify careers that combine multiple interests

• Make their own “future job” that blends things they love

• Or reflect on how their strengths might show up in different roles

No worksheet required. No prep needed. Just exposure and curiosity.

That conversation with my friend’s daughter was a reminder that students are constantly trying to figure out who they are and where they fit. Sometimes all they need is one example, one story, or one moment of recognition to realize, "Wait, I can be both!"

Final Thought

The goal isn’t for every student to grow up and work at Disney. The goal is for every student to see that their interests, talents, and identities don’t have to compete, they can connect. And when we give students opportunities to explore that? We’re helping them imagine a future that actually feels like them.

Looking for More Disney-Inspired SEL Ideas?

If you love using storytelling to build connection and perspective in your classroom, explore more lessons and resources inside Counselor Clubhouse. Sometimes, the best way to reach students is through a story they already love.