Student lands jobs at Disney, airport with Mandarin skills

As a Chinese business major, Grace Nale ’19 decided to attend Messiah because of its stellar education abroad program. Although Messiah offers 30 semester-long, off-campus programs in more than 40 countries, she wanted the world—Walt Disney World, that is.

I love Disney,” said Nale. “I always have, and this wasn’t the first time I’d heard about their internship program.

After an intense interview process, Nale was hired for the internship of her dreams and headed to Orlando, Florida. Speaking Mandarin with park guests, Nale says she strengthened her language skills and her resume.

“This whole path has been completely God,” she said. “The name recognition of Disney alone will make any future employer’s ears perk up.”

Upon returning to campus once the internship was complete, she landed a job with American Airlines at Harrisburg International Airport. Wearing a nametag that lets passengers know she speaks Mandarin, she checks bags and books flights. “There are always new people to meet, greet and serve,” she said.

Hoping to advance to a larger airport after graduation, Nale says she’d like to work in San Francisco, a hub for international travel and Chinese influence where she could immerse herself in further into the language at work and at home.

Until then, she continues to perfect her Mandarin skills—connecting with native speakers by using chat applications, watching Mandarin movies and even reading a Mandarin Bible. Although she doesn’t know where she’ll touch down after graduation, Nale says she is confident that God knows every step of her journey to come.

— Jake Miaczynski ’20