For the last several months we've had the pleasure of reading
a number of essays submitted for our essay-writing competition,
"What I Admire Most About Walt Disney." Some were hand-printed
or illustrated with happy faces and pictures of shining suns. Others
were carefully typed. One (which we featured in last month's website)
was done in verse.
Many of the essays focused on Walt's creations - from the cartoons,
to the live action films to Disneyland. With very few exceptions,
they centered on the importance of Walt's personal contribution
to these efforts.
All the entrants in our contest should be proud of themselves for
taking the time and effort to participate. But the ones that stood
out from the pack were those that focused on the elements of Walt's
personality that made his accomplishments possible. Choosing one
winner was a difficult task yet a very pleasurable one.
The winner - who will receive an autographed mini-library of books
about Walt Disney - is (drum roll, please) Janet Karen Hwu of San
Diego California. A 13-year-old Disney fan, Janet attended the Mesa
Verde Middle School last year, and will begin her studies at Mount
Carmel High School this year. This articulate young lady's essay
focuses on Walt's determination to succeed, a trait she would like
to emulate herself.
Her goal in life? To be a Disney animator!
Congratulations to Janet. Her essay follows:
The Wonderful Walt Disney
What comes to mind when one hears the name "Walt Disney?"
Most people who know a bit about this man would picture an optimistic
dreamer with a strong work ethic and a friendly smile. They would
visualize the imaginative creator of many memorable characters and
places, like Mickey Mouse, Snow White and Disneyland. Walt Disney
was a good leader, a kind father and a man who hungered for knowledge.
It is so hard to choose from the many praiseworthy traits Walt Disney
had. But what made all his magical creations come to be? What caused
Walt to become one of the most famous men in the past century? Mickey
Mouse and Disneyland would never have existed if it weren't for
the fact that Walt Disney had an outstanding amount of determination,
bravery and an ability to overcome unsuccessfulness.
Knowing how prosperous Walt was, you'd think he was the luckiest
man ever. But in truth he was only "lucky" because he
possessed the willpower to overcome the many obstacles he encountered.
Americans doubted Snow White would appeal to the public, and they
called the feature "Disney's Folly." During his studio
strike, he was called an "exploiter of labor." Disneyland's
opening day was also called a "complete disaster."
Another factor that contributed to Walt's success was how he kept
on improving, setting new goals, once he had accomplished previous
ones. His wife Lillian once commented, "Walt just kept on progressing.
He was the first with sound. He was the first with color. Then he
wanted to make a feature. I didn't want him to. I thought, 'We're
doing all right. Let's not go any further than this.'"
Lilly spoke correctly. Walt improved just for the sake of improvement.
After making several full-length animated features, Walt moved on
to live-action films. Then he wanted to build Disneyland and Disney
World! Often, when Walt chose to progress, he plunged into debt
and risked bankruptcy. People willing to take these kinds of risks
are very rare.
To conclude, Walt Disney was one of the most successful men in
the 20th Century. There are so many things to admire about him:
enthusiasm, optimism and his sense of fun. But anyone can be fun.
Anyone can be a dreamer or an optimist. It takes much more to have
the bravery and determination to turn dreams into reality. That
is what I admire most about Walt Disney.
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