The more I attempt to lean into the connectedness of our world, the larger the web seems to grow.
I went to school with the Wheelan boys once upon a time. I was younger than all three of the boys, but knew of them through athletics. By the time we were adolescents the Wheelan family had moved to Dubuque, and I continued at my alma mater in Manchester, Iowa.
The homeroom teacher listing came out and the name seemed familiar to me. I wasn’t sure if it was the “Jim Wheelan” whom I once knew. So I waited patiently until the start of the year when the school had an open house paired with our teacher meet and greet. When we visited the school all assumptions were solidified upon us walking into his classroom.
I could feel he recognized me, so I sidestepped the awkwardness and shared that I once attended school with his youngest son, Brooks, at West Delaware in Manchester, Iowa. We shared some pleasantries and common memories, and I left enamored that such a human would be instructing my child throughout the next school year.
The growth and passion for school that we had seen rekindled in our eldest daughter showed me firsthand the impact that an educator can make in a young life. The pandemic, and everything associated with it, was difficult on every student. We feel as though Mr. Wheelan was a gift to our daughter’s life because of the recognizable impact on her attitude and her newfound commitment to learning. As a family who values the lifelong pursuit of education, it’s important that we never dampen the fire for learning. After seeing his impact, I knew he could add value as a guest on the podcast.
The parallels of the things we talked about in our episode felt like a mirror image of life. When Jim spoke of the trouble finding a job out of college, balancing life as a father with young kids, trying to earn a decent living, and now his role as a grandpa, it was so relatable. I felt he was giving me personal advice to succeed in my future.
Thank you, Mr. Wheelan, for the positive impact you make every day at St. Patrick Catholic School, it doesn’t go unnoticed and I hope you feel valued. Selfishly, I hope you stay to see every Allison child come through your classroom. But, of course, no matter the amount of time you decide to stay, please know that we appreciate the role you play in making our children into better humans.
Enjoy The Ride!
