July 24, 2025
When Ryan Wheeler finished high school, he felt pressure to choose a career path immediately. He enrolled in criminal justice courses, but quickly realized it wasn’t for him. He pivoted to general education, searching for his passion, and ultimately decided to enter the workforce instead.
Years later, a chance encounter with a mutual friend opened a new door and changed everything. Wheeler learned about a job opportunity that could increase his earning potential. He took a calculated risk, leaving a job he’d held for 12 years and landed a position at Treehouse Foods.
But, five short months later, he was laid off.
“Being newly hired I was dead in the water. It blew my mind,” said Wheeler. “I just left a job 12 years in and was told the company was doing well. I couldn’t believe it.”
Wheeler remembered a maintenance job that had been posted when he first applied. Despite the layoff, he asked if he could still pursue it. After passing the required maintenance test using his general knowledge, he was rehired.
Inspired to Return to School
Wheeler found inspiration where he least expected it.
“I met a coworker at Treehouse Foods that was getting ready to retire. He'd been going to school since 1985,” said Wheeler. “He took one class at a time, paid cash and never had any debt. He chipped away at it, little by little, and then graduated right before he retired. He’s the story we hear about, that it’s never too late to go back to school. He inspired me to earn my degree.”
For Wheeler, the story proved that age and life circumstances don’t have to stand in the way of a dream.
“There’s always something to learn,” said Wheeler. “Going back to school felt like a natural progression for me.”
A Fresh Start
Wheeler enrolled in the Industrial Maintenance Applied Science degree program at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), with the goal of opening new doors within his current company.
“I am a maintenance technician at heart,” said Wheeler. “I want to get back to the maintenance side of things. I’m confident I can execute a position like a maintenance supervisor with a renewed sense of passion, especially after I earn my degree from GRCC. I’ve gained so much insight from my current position and then equipped with my knowledge from going back to school, I’m hoping this opens new doors for me.”
Searching for Resources
Balancing full time work and family responsibilities made time and money tight. Wheeler was always on the look out for ways to make college more affordable.
He enrolled through the Michigan Reconnect program, which offers free or reduced tuition at community colleges for Michigan residents 25 and older. He also found the Discover Manufacturing Scholarship while searching online and applied right away.
“I was really happy when I found out I got the scholarship. Every bit helps,” said Wheeler. “I was also really excited to attend the award ceremony and talk to people. I think education is a good thing, but I also believe it’s not just about what we learn, but who we meet along the way.”
The Value of the Journey
For Wheeler, the most meaningful part of the journey has been the people he’s met. Those connections led him to a new job, inspired him to return to college and helped him secure a scholarship.
“I naturally gravitated back to GRCC,” said Wheeler. “Every class has been a different good experience. I’ve taken away a lot from my fellow students and the faculty.”
He encourages others to embrace exploration and learning.
“My advice to new students looking to figure out what direction they want to go in: Try it all,” said Wheeler. “I was a good student in high school, but I did not know what I wanted to do when I graduated.
It’s important you have a direction and some kind of goal. I’m very grateful for my path because of the people I met along the way who really inspired me. But I would say looking back, learn whatever you can, breathe it all in, listen to the person next to you talking about their path. Maybe you’ll learn you want to do something like that too. I know I did and it led me back to GRCC to get my degree in Manufacturing.”
To learn more about the Manufacturing department at GRCC.
This story was reported by Anjula Caldwell