Expanding on Pastor Mike Jr.’s message of parents and one’s village being instrumental in them making good decisions, Princeton Parker is a Media Rep for the company who says without his mother forcing DDA on him, he would have never recognized his potential. He graduated from the program in 2011 and served as a mentor before being hired by the company and working his way up to his current position. He’s proof of what the academy can do for a youngster, especially once you help them fully tap into an area they’ve already shown interest in.

“My mom was heavy on me being in the program. What I love about it is that that was appropriate for that moment, because she was able to communicate why that opportunity already aligned with who I am,” he told us. “So I think [applying] pressure is a bad thing when it’s to push kids in the direction of something that they haven’t already geared themselves toward in their spirit. It doesn’t align with who they are. It’s toward a version that we want for them. When you apply pressure to them in an area where you say, ‘Hey, this aligns with who you are and with who I believe [you are] based upon how you’re already growing. This could propel you.”

Like Parker, 16-year-old Chicago, IL native Nyla Bishop’s mother was the brainchild behind her applying for DDA. The aspiring filmmaker begrudgingly did so and eventually became excited about the experience as the countdown inched closer. She too has dreams of working within The Walt Disney Company.

“I want to create documentaries,” she gushed in our interview. “I think showcasing more of the behind-the-scenes of the people who put it all together here at the theme parks. Specifically, I would love to do a documentary about how the cast members get ready for the shows that they do every night. That’d be fun.”

While Bishop wants to showcase what the parks are like from behind the camera, 18-year-old Orlando, FL native Noah Spinelli wants to work with the people.

” I’m a big animal guy,” he said, noting his dream of being an animal keeper. “I’m probably going to hit the Animal Kingdom theme park to learn more about potentially working behind the scenes of the animal exhibits.”

All of the celebrities who participated in this year’s event walked away more motivated because of the Dreamers. MCU staple Dominique Thorne couldn’t shake her excitement after hearing from the teens. “Being able to sit in this room and see these kids who are so excited and so passionate and so determined to be the best that they can be. Seeing so many people really step up and rise to the challenge of being all that they are has been one of the most humbling experiences of late,” she said.

And as the weekend came to a close, it was black-ish alum Marsai Martin who gave a powerful tidbit about overcoming fears through the process. At just 18 years old now, she became the youngest in Hollywood to EP her film, Little, through her own production company. Like Ash, she knows many of the Dreamers will be the firsts within their lanes to have similar success, and she wants them to embrace it all.

“It’s always great to be the first. It’s always great to be seen in that way. As long as you are seen, and you feel good, and you feel happy, and that’s your passion, people are always going to look at you because you’re doing what you love, and it may look a little different, but you’re still doing what you love,” she said. “And I think that is something that is amazing. And don’t let that intimidate you. I would just say keep going, keep pushing, and in the end, it’s going to be history.”