Root 2 Rise enriches success.

When life is good, Root 2 Rise makes it better.

Daniel Wilson, a graduate of Sun Prairie West High School, didn’t know what to expect from working with first graders. He already did “super good” in school, was an accomplished athlete (football and track), and had the enthusiastic support of a caring family.

But after a semester helping first graders, he said he “automatically became a leader,” learned to be more responsible, and refined his career goals. (He already runs a lawn care business.)

His mother, Valerie, said the experience taught Daniel to be more patient and “more relatable” to adults, kids, and peers. Daniel said each child was unique and he found a way to relate to each of them.

But most of all, Daniel loved the kids he helped. “I remember every single one of them,” he said, “I keep photos of them on my phone”. He beams when recounting how they hugged him and gave high fives every day. One asked for his autograph. And he remembers how sad he was at the last day of school at the thought of never seeing many of them again.

“I would definitely do it again,” he said.

Daniel considered a teaching career, but opted to study business at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. He plans to apply the leadership skills learned in Root 2 Rise when leading Bible study and preaching.

Valerie said she and her husband worked hard to ensure her children never experienced the difficulties she experienced as a child. 

For a decade, they have provided long-term care in their home for the same two mentally disabled adults, an unusually lengthy tenure since most care arrangements change annually. Valerie is employed as a Certified Nursing Assistant, but plans to work solely at home once her husband starts a medical non-emergency transportation company.

And stay tuned. Daniel has his sights set on participating in the Olympics. He placed third in the 100- and 300-meter hurdle events at the state track meet.

“I could have done better,” he said.