High school junior Darin McMahon has a single passion.
"I definitely love to draw cartoons, cartoons are my favorite passion," he said. "I love watching them. Just to draw them, to figure out how they move and basically how they look like has really interested me."
Interested him enough that he's created his own cartoon characters, draws all of the time and wants someday to do it for a living.
"That's my dream, to be basically a director and a producer of my own animation show," said Darin.
And he just learned he's a step closer to that dream, one of five Houston high schoolers, and one of only100 nationwide to be chosen for Disney's Dreamers Academy.
"He's always been a kid that is just kind and he's all about fulfilling his goal and his dream of being an artist," said Darin's mother, Darice McMahon.
During spring break Darin and his grandfather will travel all expenses paid for a week long learning adventure at DisneyWorld in Orlando. Students explore the stage and behind the scenes of the parks. Comedian Steve Harvey started the program with Disney and Essence Magazine in 2008 to encourage young people to reach for their dreams.
"We've had so many from our Disney Dreamers Academy go on to become successful college students, successful men, and successful women," said Harvey. "That's a great thing and we're constantly producing more fantastic young people."
"We just couldn't be more thrilled to help host this event and help make their dreams come true," said Meg Crofton with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts.
Darin will have a chance to meet celebrities and entrepreneurs. He'll network with other dreamers and get a chance to talk animation with the best of them.
Darin, by the way, was chosen based on an essay he wrote. In this case his words apparently were worth a thousand pictures.
Disney is the parent company of ABC13.
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