Elise Tao may be glad to be back home in Upper Saddle River, but the Academy of the Holy Angels junior already misses the friends she made at the 16th Annual Disney Dreamers Academy (March 23-26).
“This was most definitely a life-changing experience for me,” Tao said of her time in Orlando, Florida. “At DDA, I had the opportunity to connect with mentors in business, entrepreneurship, law, politics, entertainment, and more. I was part of the entrepreneurship career group, and I was able to learn more about expanding my business (“Synthesis Publications,” a digital art and literary magazine) thanks to the Forbes 30 Under 30-honored Kayla Michele, founder of PeduL. I was given the opportunity to pitch my business to the entire academy and Disney executives as well as perform a poem of mine called ‘Almanac to a Dreamer’ in collaboration with Disney Live Entertainment.”
Tao spent time networking with celebrities, including singer/actress Halle Bailey, who will play Ariel in the live action Disney movie “The Little Mermaid,” industry professionals, and other talented high school students. This motivated teen said DDA “allowed me to dream even more than I did before, and believe in my intrinsic talents and potential.”
The odds of becoming a Disney Dreamer were long: Only 100 teens were chosen from among 25,000 applicants.
“I cannot be more grateful to the Walt Disney Company for giving me the chance to truly pursue my interests on such a massive scale with incredible resources,” Tao said.
“I enjoyed having a front row seat to all the wonderful advice offered by the likes of VP of Disney Signature Experiences Tracey Powell, motivational speaker Princeton Parker, renowned and Grammy-winning musician H.E.R., and more,” Tao continued. “I was extremely honored to have the opportunity to march down Magic Kingdom in a procession with the 99 other (Disney)
Dreamers, as well as have the opportunity to explore each and every Disney World park. I was able to go on the new TRON ride twice! I conducted interviews with journalists and I was part of Disney's media coverage regarding the DDA experience. Overall, I had such a fun and rewarding experience at Disney Dreamers Academy.”
On January 13, when the DDA Class of 2023 was named, Tao enjoyed seeing her name in lights on the “Good Morning America” billboard in Times Square.
She sought out this opportunity as a way to work toward the realization of her dreams. She also expressed her admiration for Disney’s efforts to inspire young people.
Tao is active with Everytown Students Demand Action, an anti-gun violence organization she discovered while representing the Academy of the Holy Angels at the 2022 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Conference.
She explores her interests in business, politics, and international relations as an award-winning member of Holy Angels’ DECA Team for business-minded and entrepreneurial teens, and AHA’s Model United Nations organization. She is a member of the AHA Student Council and is founder and president of Student Mathletes, AHA’s competitive math team. She was recently inducted into Mu Alpha Theta, the national honor society for students who excel in mathematics.
Tao is a Mother Caroline Scholar and maintains an excellent grade point average. She has earned multiple Gold Keys for her written submissions to the regional Scholastic Art & Writing Competition. In the fall of 2022, she attended the UN’s International Day of the Girl.
