Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Gonzalez.
Melissa, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
When someone says to “tell your story” there’s a lot that comes to mind. The highs and the lows, but that’s what makes us stronger as a person. My story is something that I am very proud of. It is about my career goals and loving myself. Everyone like myself has their “dream job” and my dream job is to perform no matter what. I started working for the Walt Disney World company back in 2017. I am still currently working for them full time and I can say I am living my dream job. However, it wasn’t very easy getting there. I also had other dreams that were in Miami and that was to become a professional dancer for the MLB. Ever since 2017 had kicked off I started to hustle. My personal life was at its difficult point when my boyfriend who I was with for four years had cheated on me. That to me was the end of the world. Feeling the pressure building up in my body was not healthy for me. That was a big time in my life to really love myself. As I focus more on my career, I had dated someone for a year thinking it was my person to then had broken up with me over the phone on the new year of 2019, than losing my grandfather shortly after that. It’s a lot to take in, but that’s when my faith came at its strongest. That’s when I knew enough is enough and I had to stop worrying about others and to worry about myself. That’s when I became very career focus and really started to love myself through the grace of God. As I’m pushing myself, I did become a Marlins Mermaid professional dancer. I then became a full timer performer at Walt Disney World, as well as a seasonal performer for the Universal company. All this took about three years and with that time, it really set my goals high and focus on myself.
Believing in myself and loving myself is the first step to any success in life, I feel. I’ve always lived up to this quote that my religion teacher had told me back when I was in high school stating, “if you live outside God’s boundaries, it complicates your life.” Now having the title of an MLB dancer and a performer at Disney is very mentally and physically demanding. However, taking in every step and listening to your body was what helped me and can help you through whatever your dream job is.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like in any story there’s going to be some conflicts along the way. Previously explaining, it’s all about making those struggles into stronger components to keep my head up high.
Please tell us about your work.
Being a MLB professional dancer for the Marlins was something very mentally and physically demanding for my body and mind. I had so many amazing opportunities and I would never take that experience for granted. I was pushed to my limits like no other and had amazing team mates and managers to support me to get better.
Being a Walt Disney World Performer, I would have to say it truly pushed me to my limits regarding portraying different characters and applying them to different shows and parades.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
My qualities that is important to me to become successful is to
1. not to overthink
2. loving yourself
3. trust the process (patience)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @marlins @WlatDisneyWorld
Image Credit:
@Malrins @WaltDisneyWorld
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