“I first came into Peace as a BFA Musical Theatre major. I had been in the performing arts for a majority of my life and at the time I saw myself as only an actor — I had no clue that so many different doors would be opening for me later that year.
One early moment from my college experience that stands out was when I was elected as SGPA’s Pacer Pride Coordinator at the end of my first year. It was my first time participating in an election (along with the extra runoff) and I was super nervous for the outcome. Getting elected in this role not only helped me grow in my confidence, but also began my journey as a student leader.
The two people who have had the biggest impact on my Peace journey are my SGPA advisors, Kristin Koch and Christine O’Donnell. They have always supported me in every decision I have made during my journey and have consistently been there to celebrate my wins. They both have inspired me and influenced my life in extremely positive ways: Christine with her endless optimism and creativity and Kristin in her determination to get things done and insane organizational skills. I am forever grateful to have such amazing mentors in my corner and I will always cherish my memories in SGPA with both of them.
An accomplishment that I am especially proud of is representing Peace in Florida as a participant in the Disney College Program. Working in the parks almost daily and having guests ask about where I went to school, our location, and our campus history were always the best parts of my day. The rare occasion when a Peace alumni would be visiting my location in the parks and we crossed paths would always remind me how important the Pacer community is — it’s those little similarities that truly make you feel the most seen, especially in this massive, professional world.
My time at Peace could easily be described as “non-linear” and I am extremely proud of that. I feel like within four years I have lived a hundred different lives and jumped at every opportunity that came my way. I came in with one, strict plan: earn a BFA, move to New York, make it on Broadway. Obviously, there were some changes — I slowly learned that not every story goes from beginning to end and that the events in between can drastically impact the final outcome. If you told freshman year Kaitlyn that she would be a part of SGPA, play a college sport, move to Florida for a semester, and not be earning a BFA she would definitely be in denial of it all. I feel like when you hear people say “do it scared” it makes you want to roll your eyes; but if I didn’t do everything with a little fear and uncertainty, I would not be the person I am today.
Being in the middle of Raleigh had a significant influence on me. Not only is this such a beautiful city, but it is always growing and changing; it allows for so many different personal and career opportunities for various types of students.
After graduation, I am moving back to Florida for another Disney College Program! I hope to eventually work full-time for the company and move into a role as a program advisor or recruiter. My experience working in SGPA under the best advisors truly inspired me to want to work with students, leading them towards the path of success and celebrating their wins.”
Favorite Peace Memory: “My favorite tradition at Peace is always the Red Rose Ball. I just love to dress up, dance, and have fun with other students. Especially working in SGPA, I think it’s the one night where we are all just having fun together and we get to celebrate the hard work of that year’s Traditions Coordinator.”
Kaitlyn Bliss is an English and interdisciplinary arts major who evolved from performer to student leader through her work with the Student Government Programming Association (SGPA). A Disney College Program participant, she is committed to mentoring students and building community.
