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P R O C E E D I N G S
[Video]
S
eeing that clip brings back many memories. Memo-
ries I often choose not to talk about, but today Im
going to share the events of that day and lessons I
learned from that experience. Last April will be 11 years
since two of my schoolmates, disturbed individuals, de-
cided to take action on their unhappiness. By sharing my
story with you today, I prove that good can come from evil
and tragedy can be overcome. I remember the victims and
survivors of that day and honor all who have helped me
reclaim my life, particularly my parents, sister, and wife.
I want to ask you a question: What qualies as a bad
day? In our business, it might be canceled appointments
or no-shows, getting no referrals, or a strong client lapsing
his policy.
Life can be ckle. On any given day, in our business,
we could have the worlds worst client meeting, but in the
next moment, we could be taking an application that will
truly impact someones life or write the one case that gets
us to MDRT qualication level production. In our busi-
ness, as in life, things can, and do, change from one mo-
ment to the next.
To get a sense of time, I want you to stop and think.
What were you doing 30 seconds ago? What were you do-
ing ve minutes ago? How about 30 minutes ago? What
stands out in your mind about yesterday? Can you remem-
ber what you did on Saturday night? Keeping these time
frames in mind, I want to take you back to April 20, 1999,
when my life changed in a second.
I was 17 years old and looking forward to the weekend.
Just ve minutes earlier I had been shushed by the librar-
ian for talking too loud about my friend Austins upcom-
ing golf trip, Dan and Makais plan to climb 14,000 feet
to the top of Pikes Peak, Coreys planned purchase of his
dream car, a Ford Mustang, and my plan to get out on
the lake water skiing that afternoon for an early start to
the 1999 water ski season. Just 20 minutes before, I was
telling a good friend that I couldnt go to the food court
at the mall because I had to nish my stats homework for
that afternoons class. Just the day before was a normal
Patrick J. Ireland is a one-year MDRT member
and a managing director for the Northwestern
Mutual Financial Network in Denver, Colorado.
He began a career in nancial services while earning
his bachelors degree at Colorado State University.
Immediately after graduating magna cum laude in
May 2004, he became a full-time nancial services
professional. Today, he manages a district oce in
Broomeld, a suburb of Denver.
Northwestern Mutual
350 Interlocken Blvd., Suite 280
Broomeld, CO 80021
Phone: 720.382.5001
E-mail: patrick.ireland@nmfn.com
A Window in Time
Patrick J. Ireland
MP3: MP1013 CD: C1013 DVD: D1013
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P R O C E E D I N G S
A Window in Time(continued)
Monday at school. Te previous Sunday I had played one
of the best basketball games of my life. Later that same
day, I had attended my junior prom.
Ten a frantic teacher ran into the library to warn my
classmates and me of the two gunmen. Tirty seconds
later I was crouched under a library table with gunshots
and pipe bombs creating an unbearable ringing in my
ears. I heard the vengeful words of the two gunmen say-
ing, Tis is for all the BS [and by the way, they did not
abbreviate] you put us through the last four years. And I
began to pray.
A friend sitting with me just moments before was shot
in the knees. I went to his aid, applying pressure to the
wound. As I did, my head came just an inch or two above
the library table, the only physical shield from the gun-
men. I was shot twice in the head and once in the foot.
Te gunman was no more than 15 feet away.
A piece of buckshot penetrated my skull, going through
the left hemisphere of the brain, paralyzing my right thigh
and impacting my ability to see clearly. Luckily, the next
one lodged between my skull and scalp, minimizing the
damage. A third tore through my new shoes and broke
a bone in my foot. I think you would agree that would
qualify as a bad day!
I blacked out, but the carnage continued. In my sub-
conscious, I continued to hear the screams, the pleading
for mercy, the ongoing gunshots, and the horric cack-
les of the shooterstheir laughteras if it was all just a
game. Ten it stopped. Te gunmen left.
My friends tried to get my attention and then to drag
my seemingly lifeless body with them to the emergency
exit. I looked at them, not responding. I was just dead
weight, and they needed to leave to save themselves.
When I regained consciousness, I asked myself, What
just happened? I realized, after a few attempts, that I
didnt have the ability to stand up. Frantically I wondered
how was I supposed to get out. I couldnt risk just waiting
here for fear of the gunmen coming back. Who knew how
long it would take for the police or re department to res-
cue me? I realized that, at that moment, the only person I
had to rely on was myself and that I needed to take control
of my situation.
Was I afraid? Of course I was. Sometimes fear is a good
thing, a necessary thingsomething that pushes us and
helps us achieve. Bill Goodwin, a Northwestern Mutual
General Agent and Managing Partner in Atlanta said,
Courage is not the absence of fear, courage is taking ac-
tion in light of what you fear.
I rolled over on my back and began to push myself
with my one functioning leg on the arduous journey to
the nearest exit. Numerous times during my trek, I took
a break to regain my strength. I passed in and out of con-
sciousness. I thought of how much easier it would be to
give up and let somebody come get me or to let whatever
would happen, happen.
But these negative thoughts were simply speed bumps
to my end goal. I couldnt let evil win. I couldnt let down
all those who loved and relied on me. I was committed to
my goal of getting out of what had become a war zone.
So I pushed on toward the nearest exit. It happened to
be a second oor window. As I wound my way between
strewn about tables, chairs, and dead bodies, I took note
of one young boy leaning almost serenely up against one
of the computer terminals. Later, my story to the father of
this young boy generated an immense amount of gratitude
from the fact that he was resting peacefully, and a huge
weight was lifted from both of our hearts.
It took three hours from the time I was shot to crawl
the approximately 50 feet to the window. I had lost a con-
siderable amount of blood. I leaned up against the wall
below the window for an additional rest, and I hoped that
the easy chair to my left would hide me from the gunmen
if they happened to reenter the library.
I nally built up the strength necessary to hoist my-
self up to the windowsill. I heard a helicopter ying above
and felt a cool breeze owing in where the window had
been shattered by gunre. I swept away excess pieces of
jagged glass and heard a strangers voice shouting at me
from across the parking lot, Hang on kid. Stay there.
Well come get you. I waved in acknowledgement and
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P R O C E E D I N G S
A Window in Time(continued)
anxiously waited for them to maneuver into position, un-
able to see them as they approached.
As soon as I heard the armored car arrive below the
window, I began to make my move. I did not wait for the
SWAT team to give the okay. I was out of there. Almost
too soon, my lifeless body plunged onto the roof of the
Loomis Fargo armored truck below.
I know many of you are parents. You can imagine the
feelings of terror and anguish my parents felt as the events
of that day unfolded, not knowing where to go or where I
was. Visits to a nearby elementary school and local library,
where the names had been posted of those of children who
were safe, proved to be in vain. Finally, after hours of fear
and prayer, they received a voice mail from St. Anthonys
Hospital saying I had been shot and needed to go to sur-
gery as soon as possible. When my parents arrived at the
hospital, all they saw were my feet on the gurney boarding
an elevator heading toward the operating room. Te doc-
tors couldnt wait any longer for them to arrive. Only then
did they realize how serious my injuries must be.
I have a younger sister. As the events unfolded, she was
quarantined in the middle school gym. Sitting with her
friends, she watched the news reports. She saw the live vid-
eo of the boy in the school window and her heart dropped,
not knowing for sure that it was me. But her sixth sense
told her it was, and the possibility of losing her brother
was terrifying.
After nearly four hours in surgery, the neurosurgeon
explained to my parents that the brain injury I sustained
would impact my ability to read, write, and remember. I
would not walk again, and I would have very limited use
of my right side. Because there wasnt much swelling in
the brain, there might be some small improvement, but
not to expect much more than my current level of func-
tioning. Tose were to be the long-term results.
When my parents were nally allowed to see me, they
were very alarmed at the sight of my head wrapped in
gauze. Over the next few days, they hardly left the room.
Tey hardly ate. For comfort, to wrap me in love, and
due to the fact that their teenage son had reverted back to
infancy, they covered me with my baby blanket. During
that rst week of recovery, they intently prayed for heal-
ing, focusing on relieving the trauma and coaxing the
neurons to come back together in my brain.
Te outlook appeared to be grim until Tursday af-
ternoon, two days later, when a neurologist from Craig
Rehabilitation Hospital came to visit. Te rst thing he
expressed was that there was hope, creating a wave of
optimism and relief that washed over my family and the
entire hospital sta. Eventually, I was transferred to the
rehabilitation hospital.
As you might imagine, its extremely frustrating not be-
ing able to make the connection between your brain and
your hand or your mouth. I knew in my mind how to put
pen to paper and form the right letters to spell the words
that allowed me to complete a sentence and, ultimately, a
paragraph, yet I was unable to make my body take action.
In the month that followed, I participated in extensive
speech, occupational, and physical therapy. By July 1, just
ten weeks later, I was fortunate to move home from the
rehab hospital. By August, I was splitting my day between
school in the morning and rehab in the afternoon. By
November 1999, I had completed my rehab. Because I was
able to split time between therapy and school, I graduated
on time with the class of 2000 and achieved my goal of
graduating Valedictorian, top of my class.
Tat next fall I entered Colorado State University. Te
rst weekend on campus, before classes even started, I met
Kacie Lancaster, the girl who would later become my wife.
Tose were four great years of education, four great years
of involvement with my brothers at Phi Kappa Alpha fra-
ternity, four great years with Kacie by my side. I graduated
magna cum laude in May of 2004 and married Kacie. Now
weve been married for ve years in August, and we just had
our rst child, Kennedy Quinn Ireland, last month.
While in school, I met a recruiter who led me to an
internship with Northwestern Mutual Life, which I thor-
oughly enjoyed. I looked into other career options but
settled on the life insurance industry and Northwestern
Mutual, where I made MDRT my rst year in the business!
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P R O C E E D I N G S
A Window in Time(continued)
In an instant on that fateful spring day in 1999, my
life dramatically changed from the carefree lifestyle I was
accustomed toa childhood growing up spending week-
ends at the lake, being involved in all sorts of athletics
and other typical teenage activitiesto the reality of the
struggles I had to overcome to move forward in life. A tall
order for someone only 17.
I know I am fortunate to still be here, alive and well
now, but the journey from that day to this one was not easy.
I had many times when I was discouraged and angry, but
I have come to value the many things I have learned along
the way, lessons that will serve me throughout my life.
I have come to believe in these four things.
1. People are generally good in nature.
2. With perseverance, we can all achieve greatness.
3. When things happen in life, as they surely will, we
all have the choice of being a victim or a victor.
4. Cherish life and your relationships.
I believe the world is inherently good at heart. I was
able to see and experience rsthand the basic goodness
of the human spirit. I witnessed it in a 24-year-old am-
bulance driver who traveled the 85 blocks to the hospital
in just 17 critical minutes; in the hospital counselor who
helped my sister begin to understand that, although her
brother might not be exactly the same as he was before, he
would still be the same person inside.
I have felt it in the love and support of all of those close
to me, in the encouragement of the sta at St. Anthonys
and Craig Rehabilitation Hospitals and from people
around the nation and the world who sent well wishes and
positive thoughts and prayed for me and my family.
By keeping a positive outlook despite all the negative
news with which we are constantly bombarded, we can
overcome obstacles. Dwelling on what is bad in the world
results in lost energy and does nothing to improve our
lives. Always choose to focus on the positive.
Perseverance is dened as steady persistence in a course
of action, a purpose in spite of diculties, obstacles or
discouragement. Without perseverance, who knows if I
would have made it to that window or gotten out alive?
Without perseverance, who knows if I would have proven
the doctors wrong and learned to walk again? Without
perseverance, who knows if I would have graduated with
my class, let alone as the valedictorian? Without perse-
verance, who knows if I would have gone on to college,
discovered Northwestern Mutual, and achieved MDRT
membership?
We must persevere every day in our work to positively
impact other peoples lives. Without our perseverance, will
our clients approaching retirement have enough money
to live in dignity for their remaining years? Without our
perseverance, will that young family be protected if the
father or mother dies or becomes disabled? Without our
perseverance, will our clients savings be wiped out by the
cost of treatment for a critical illness?
I have chosen our profession as my lifes work, to make
a dierence, because I have a passion for impacting the
lives of others and making sure that their needs are met.
Te lesson that has played the most critical role in de-
ning the impact of that day and, more importantly, how
the days and events that followed shaped my life and the
lives of the people around me is the recognition that we
can choose to live with the attitude of a victor. You are
only a victim if you let yourself become one. Choosing to
be a victor gives you the courage and strength to push on
when the easier choice may be to just give up.
U.S. civil rights leader Whitney Young once said, Te
truth is that there is nothing noble in being superior to
someone else. Te only real nobility is in being superior to
your former self.
My sister, Maggie, was also victorious through this
experience. She, too, graduated Valedictorian of her high
school class and summa cum laude from college. She
was inuential in her college sorority and, in 2008, she
competed in the Miss America Pageant as Miss Colorado.
(Tats one thing I didnt do!). Her passion and plan is to
help survivors of brain and spinal cord injuries as a physi-
cal therapist at Craig Rehabilitation Hospital. Tis may
never have happened if she hadnt spent so much time
there with me and as a volunteer.
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P R O C E E D I N G S
A Window in Time
People have the opportunity to experience us as a victor
or a victim on a daily basis. We have the responsibility to
be conscious of how we impact each others lives. By hav-
ing the courage to persevere in the face of obstacles, being
ethical in our behavior, and having the attitude of a victor,
we are an example for others. Tis can be contagious. Tis
is leadership!
My MDRT mentor, Carl Polhemus, shared a quote
passed down to him from his father, Marty, Savor each
day, cherish each relationship, and enhance the world
around you. I now savor each day by living each moment
in time and by being present with each person I meet and
encounter. Tank you, Carl.
Troughout my life, I have felt the love and support of a
number of families. First, the extraordinary core family of
my parents and sister, thankfully blessed with the strength
and determination that helped us overcome this experi-
ence and who continue to encourage me in all situations.
I have my Columbine high school family of friends
that never let me down, and my college fraternity broth-
ers who helped develop my leadership abilities, and now
Northwestern Mutual, my latest family. Cherishing these
relationships and having the support from family and
friends truly made a dierence in my recovery. Speaking
of those relationships, some of the people that helped me
that April day, Im proud to say, are now my clients.
Focus on building lasting relationships, and you can
make an impact that will enhance the world around you.
Personally important to me is to keep in mind and re-
member that the shootings at Columbine were a random
event that happened. Te word Columbine should not be
used as a symbol of all things bad. It should be used as a
symbol of strength and hope and courage. Te shootings
were a negative event in my life, but I choose to focus on
the positives that came from it. It will not dene me in a
negative way.
April 20, 1999, started as a normal day in my lifejust
a moment in time.
Columbine was an event in my lifejust a window in
time.
Tank you!