After being put on furlough from Disneyland for about 13 months, I’ve finally returned to work! Yay! I was understandably nervous and anxious about returning, hence why I opted to remain on furlough for this long, but when the call finally came to return, I took it.

For the first few shifts, I was still really anxious. I had only received one vaccine dose at the time and felt way a little bit safer, but I kept wondering what if…

I would wash my hands and sanitize after touching anything, which was a bit excessive and caused my hands to get an allergic reaction (painful red rash on the tops of my hands 🥵).

It took a little while, but I gradually got more comfortable and able to perform my job well with each new shift. Getting the second dose of the vaccine also instilled confidence and helped to ease some worries. My area leadership team and co-workers who had returned for some time helped make me feel more comfortable as well. Also, the protocols and procedures set in place at work make me feel a million times safer. And yes, I still wash my hands and sanitize often, but I also remind myself that covid isn’t proven to spread easily on surfaces, so I can ease up on the sanitizer and save my hands!

While I enjoyed my time not working and focusing solely on homework and taking care of myself, it felt nice to see my old friends and get back into a routine.

Now, my biggest worry is being able to balance school and work, which is a problem I’m sure many students face. While I try to find some steadiness in my work-school routine, I’m glad to be back making magic for guests.