Sunny Star: Dana Gielselman
Hello friends! I hope this post finds you well. I'm sorry for the delay...just when I think life can't get any busier, it does! I have been working hard on my doctorate at Pepperdine and finding time to write anything but assessment and intake reports are hard to come by these days.With that being said, I am SO excited to share this interview with a fellow NCL Sustainer, Dana Gielselman. I met Dana this past summer when I came into the NCL Headquarters to film a video. Dana is a fellow UCLA Bruin, Disney intern mastermind, and a total rockstar. I'm so excited for you to learn from this stellar lady. I especially love that she is pursuing a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). She is a reminder that girls can do ANYTHING and I hope that you'll be that much more motivated after reading her story.
1. You had the incredible opportunity of taking not one, but two Disney Imagineering classes at UCLA. On top of that, your team won the competition! Can you tell us more about this experience?The Disney Imagineering courses at UCLA are by far the most incredible classes I've ever taken. For two quarters, weekly speakers from Walt Disney Imagineering would come tell our class about their roles, the process behind creating immersive, themed entertainment, and fun stories about the parks. I was amazed to learn about the collaborative dynamic between creativity and technology at Disney, and I was so excited to be selected to join the second quarter. I then worked in a creative design team with five amazingly talented fellow students. We spent the quarter redesigning a department store model and ultimately presented our project to executives at the Imagineering headquarters. I can’t believe how much I learned; it was one of the most magical experiences of my life!
2. What was your favorite memory during the Imagineering classes?
Having the chance to work together with an incredible team was definitely my favorite part of the experience. It’s pretty rare to work in a group for a whole quarter and become so close, let alone a group of such motivated, creative individuals. We all had very diverse backgrounds, and it was so neat to see all of our different ideas come together to result in a new, creative solution to the challenge. Getting a behind-the-scenes tour of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure with Tony Baxter—the Disney Legend behind projects such as Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, The Indiana Jones Adventure, and Disneyland Paris—was pretty unbelievable, too.
3. Winning the competition required your expertise in math. So many young women are afraid to pursue a major or career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). What has your experience been like as a math major and are you glad that you are pursuing math?
Before college, I loved math because it came naturally to me, and I’ve always found it fun to work with numbers. However, I now love math because it is the greatest academic challenge I have ever faced. I actually didn’t learn what math is truly all about until my second year of college in my first upper division course, Linear Algebra. Math is about taking a statement and explaining why that statement is true or false through logical reasoning. It’s not really about plugging numbers into equations; it’s a way of thinking. Choosing to major in math has been one of the best choices I’ve ever made because it will really help me in any field I choose to pursue.
4.What encouragement would you have for young women who are considering, or perhaps doubtful, about pursuing STEM?
I would say to not let anyone or anything hold you back from pursuing STEM! The difficulty of science concepts and classes can sometimes be pretty intimidating, but there is so much to learn whether you ace these classes or barely pass. I’ve been in both situations, and it has honestly been so rewarding to see myself grow because of these opposite experiences. So don’t let the challenge hold you back! It’s also important to remember that grades are ultimately just a letter; it’s the understanding of the material that will truly stick with you in the long run if you put in the work. That’s the best part about STEM fields/majors; they’re all about explaining the world we live in, which really applies to anything you decide to do in life.
5. You have been a National Charity League volunteer and intern. What has this experience been like for you and why are you a part of this organization?
Being a part of National Charity League throughout school and throughout this last summer as an intern has been life-changing. Through the organization, I’ve learned the value of service as I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer with my mom and work with incredible philanthropies such as Ronald McDonald House Charities, Military Support, Family Assistance Ministries, etc. NCL has provided me with so many opportunities to grow and learn leadership, professionalism, etiquette, and communication skills that will continue to help me for the rest of my life. I will also be forever grateful to the wonderfully kind, supportive team at the NCL, Inc. Headquarters for the unforgettable internship experience this summer. As I collaborated with the team on a number of projects, including the launch of NCL, Inc. on multiple social media platforms, I learned more and more about the organization’s impact and incredible work from the inspiring leaders behind it. I can’t wait to stay involved in the organization for years to come and to see how NCL continues to grow!