Chase Donelson
As obtaining a form of higher education is becoming increasingly essential for Gen Z entering the job market, young Disney on Ice performers are refusing to let their unconventional jobs stop them from preparing for a career and life off the road. While traveling across the world, performing to a new audience each night, and checking into a new hotel each week sounds like enough to fill anyone's schedule, these skaters are proving that through dedication and tedious time management, there is still time to pursue a degree along the way.
One of the performers in Disney on Ice Presents “Let's Dance”, Alexandra Sackett, talks about what an average week in her life looks like as a performer and college student. Sackett, who takes classes through the University of Minnesota, is approximately one year away from completing a bachelor’s degree. She has been on tour since graduating from high school in 2019.
Sackett says, “On a normal week, we have 2–3 days off at the beginning of the week, then we begin shows usually on a Wednesday or Thursday, and they run through the weekend.”
She goes on to say, “Once the show week gets started, we are super busy, so prioritizing study time on our days off is very important. I like to find a cute coffee shop in the city we are in that week and get some work done. It's good because it allows me to explore the city and try new places, but also be productive with the schoolwork I need to do!”
Similar to Sackett, Aino Eskola has also worked for the company since 2019. However, Eskola is studying to be an athletic trainer at a university in her home country of Finland.
Eskola said, “I started school online from home in Finland in 2020 when the pandemic hit. When I got the call to come back to Disney on Ice, I decided I could finish out my semester online while on the road. From then on, I realized that it was manageable to keep working through my university degree while also pursuing my passion for skating with Disney on Ice!”
Through taking classes at a university in a different country, Eskola has other challenges she faces. Eskola mentioned, “I currently have an eight-hour time difference to Helsinki. I have to pay extra attention to my due dates and meeting times if I do have any.”
Eskola’s classes are all asynchronous, which helps with the major time zone difference.
She also noted, “The only really tricky part is that I always have to be mindful of what time it is back home if I need to get in touch with my professors.”
While Eskola manages geographical time zone challenges, other student-athletes like Mitchel Kohlmeir cite financial benefits as being one of the biggest advantages of taking online courses while touring.
Kohlmeir, who has been working for the company since 2021, obtained his associate degree before joining Disney on Ice, and then started his bachelor’s degree on the road.
Kohlmeir says, “Doing it this way was really the best way to go about it. I can make a paycheck by doing something I love, which also allows me to pay for my degree out of pocket and not take out any loans or go into debt in the process.” He adds, “I was worried about missing out on the full ‘college experience’ of living on campus, but it turns out traveling the world is just as good! Plus, it also saved me tons of money for room and board fees that would normally be charged for living on campus.”
For Sackett, Eskola, and Kohlmeir, pursuing a higher education degree does not have to take a backseat to living their dreams performing for Disney on Ice. Through careful time management and dedication, these student-athletes are finding the right balance to set them up for a future of success while creating memories to last a lifetime.
