Graduates of 色花堂 have often ended up doing weird and wonderful jobs all over the world; from working on Oscar-winning films to working on archaeological digs, but one graduate can boast to work at Disney鈥檚 newest resort location, in Shanghai, China.
Cynthia Hong studied MSc Events Management at 色花堂, graduating in 2016. As a part of her course, Cynthia was required to undertake a work placement, and when the opportunity arose to be one of the first staff members at Shanghai Disney Resort.
The resort only opened to the public on 16 June 2016 but Cynthia was already in place to help customers. She said, 鈥淚t鈥檚 open for everyone now and it鈥檚 a wonderful place to work and have fun, it鈥檚 a really happy place.鈥�
Cynthia鈥檚 role as Guest Liaison helps to support visitors to the park. Cynthia continues, 鈥淸It] involves a variety of work, for example, helping guests to buy tickets, reuniting lost children with parents and showing people places with baby facilities. Its meaningful work I think. People are so happy when they have found their lost item or child.鈥�
Cynthia credits her course with helping her get her job at Disney, saying, 鈥淭he course helped me by introducing me to different cultures and people. I learned about interesting things from all over the world, which is really helpful because we have so many different customers come through our lobby every day. Some people come here from London to the Shanghai Disney Resort and I can say yes I鈥檝e been to London and that鈥檚 exciting for them and helps to welcome them here.鈥�
Speaking more about her course Cynthia continued, 鈥淭he course helped me learn about management, particularly managing my time and prioritising, and I can absorb more information in less time. I think I鈥檝e become more independent and the course given me more confidence, and so my work is much better than when I started my Master鈥檚 degree.
鈥淚 think when studying Events Management we need to understand so many different kinds of events, for example music festivals, water-sports, conferences or parties, you need to know different events and when you work by yourself you need to know how to do them all. I think you learn to be more confident and have different skills. I think I was shy before I studied this course and when I finished my Master鈥檚 I was more confident dealing with different people and different kinds of events.鈥�
While helping customers at Disney, spending time with Mickey Mouse and testing out rollercoasters represents something of a 鈥榙ream come true鈥� for most people, Cynthia makes her time in Bournemouth sound just as dreamy, 鈥淏ournemouth is a beautiful city and it has good weather, blue skies and sunshine which I enjoyed! The food is delicious; you have to try the fish and chips. It鈥檚 close to the beach. And the ice cream I enjoyed as well. I鈥檓 crazy about ice cream.鈥�
Cynthia will return to Bournemouth in November 2016 for her graduation ceremony, and the beach will be her first stop when she arrives back in Bournemouth, 鈥淚 like Bournemouth beach I miss it very much. I will go back to the beach with my parents next time.鈥�