From March 8 to 11, one of Cass High School’s very own students was hand-selected to participate in a program called Disney Dreamers Academy. The lucky teen, Jaterria Hicks, is a 4.0 junior who alongside being a cheerleader at Cass High, partakes in various clubs and extracurricular activities including, but not limited to, National Honors Society and Health Occupations Students of America. Even more so, Hicks spends her free time volunteering at the North Broad Youth Center and serving within her church.

This event is held in Orlando, FL at the Walt Disney World Resort and lasts for four days. Every year, dreamers are selected based on three essays written over “your story, your life, your dreams,” and of course, the students’ “openness to dreaming big,” according to the official Disney Dreamers website. Thousands of students apply but only 100 lucky teenagers are able to participate each year. The Disney Dreamers program was made to inspire and encourage students to follow their dreams. In an exclusive interview with Hicks, she said, “I learned that dreams are like babies, and in order for them to come true, you must groom and take care of them.”

Hicks attended many enlightening speeches and even was able to participate in the Medical Deep Dive, where she had the opportunity to talk to professionals and even perform “surgery” on animal parts. The teen also was accompanied by her mother, who commented

that the trip helped her and her daughter bond and “learn new things together.” Jaterria and her mother, Laterrica, both agree that this experience was enlightening and a priceless memory they will share for many years to come.

In the end, Jaterria shared that, “The most important thing I took away from the Disney Dreamers experience is that I can’t let my fears of life and people scream while my dreams whisper.”