Like many of the Dreamers he speaks to each year, Sprinkles felt disconnected for most of his life. He endured the divorce of his parents and death of his father at a young age. He didn’t feel like he was welcomed in many circles and found himself constantly trying to be something that he wasn’t to achieve connection with his peers. Growing through those challenging teen years, Sprinkles discovered how he could truly connect with himself, his Source and be of service to others.
Today, Sprinkles – known as “Your Connection Coach” – is a world-class speaker who shares with each incoming class of Dreamers how they can use the power of connection to get from where they are to where they desire to go. “I’m the first speaker and I talk to them about the power of the dream,” Sprinkles shared.
APPLY FOR DISNEY DREAMERS ACADEMY BY OCT. 31, 2017 HERE!
“I talk about the power of the dream and how the dream connects what is to what can be. It’s the dream that allows you to divorce your reality and get married to your future. And I help them by giving them some steps – some very practical things – that they can do in order to live and spend time in their dream every day so that they can make it a reality,” he added.
For many students, acceptance into the highly competitive Disney Dreamers Academy is the first of many dreams fulfilled. Statistically, it’s more challenging to get into the Dreamers Academy than it is to make it into Harvard, says Sprinkles. Thousands of high school students between the ages 13- 19 compete for participation in the all-expense-paid program by submitting an application and an essay. Only 100 are accepted.
The challenge of getting in, however, shouldn’t stop these scholars from applying. Renowned educator Dr. Steve Perry stresses that participation in the Disney Dreamers Academy is especially critical for them, who often go through school and life with a hands-off approach because they are so brilliant.
“Just because a child is 17 and self-motivated it doesn’t mean that they don’t need a parent. They still need a parent. At least one, potentially two, three, or four. They still need the high touch, high visibility experience that parenting is. Don’t be fooled by their good grades or resume,” says Dr. Perry, who serves as a DDA mentor and leads workshops for the parents and students. .
Born into a third generation of poverty to a teen mother, Dr. Perry is a blueprint for what it means to believe bigger and achieve against the odds. Dr. Perry received a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Rhode Island; a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania; and a Ph.D in education from the University of Hartford.
As the founder of Capital Preparatory Magnet Schools, Dr. Perry holds the distinction of 100% college acceptance for his graduating seniors, many of them minority students from low-income families.
Considered one of the nation’s most innovative educators, who has the ear of the likes of Oprah, Steve Harvey and Sean “Diddy” Combs, Dr. Perry explains that the Disney Dreamers Academy program is life-changing because it validates students as dreamers.
“So much about dreaming out loud is challenged by people around you. Their impression of you [and] their impression of themselves are all on display when you say that you want to be an architect or an astronaut. They are so quick, no matter who, to tell you what you can’t be. And so the Dreamers [Academy] makes them feel like they can be somebody.”
Through the program, says Dr. Perry, students recognize that their story and the things that many people would think limit them are actually a source of inspiration to themselves and others.
“We have to arm our children with a sense of self so as to ensure that they know how to deal with life’s complications which is other people’s shortcomings,” says Dr. Perry.
Exposure to coaching, mentoring, and positive experiences like Dreamers Academy have proven to boost self-esteem and increase the likelihood of success.
“Disney is the world headquarters for dreams and there’s no better place to learn than at Disney,” says Sprinkles.
Do you know a teen with unlimited potential who would benefit from the Disney Dreamers Academy program? Encourage them to apply TODAY! Applications are accepted through October 31, 2017. Students must register online here. To learn more about the Disney Dreamers Academy, visit www. DisneyDreamersAcademy.com.