It’s a busy schedule daily for Dr. Edwin “Eli” Whitney, a San Antonio Cardiologist who specializes in non–invasive therapy for heart disease and its associated issues. Medication targeting specific problems, healthy exercise and eating a proper diet are the key factors in successful therapy, longevity and quality of life. That’s the message given to every patient in his clinic at the Heart & Vascular Institute of Texas in northeast San Antonio. At lunchtime, a bowl of pinto beans rich in fiber and protein are part of Dr. Whitney’s daily routine of healthy eating.
In addition to his role as a physician is Dr. Whitney’s role as founder and board president of Motivate Our Students Texas, a non–profit agency dedicated to motivating school students to succeed in life. The program implemented in local public schools is called “G.A.M.E.R.” which stands for Giving Americans Motivational Education for the Real World.
“The message I want children to get is that in the real world, the fun jobs pay more money, but to get them, you have to have a good education.”
According to Whitney, one of the most important things in life is to motivate people to do good things.
“The thing that determines those who are successful in life is motivation. Sociologists have us believe that success is where you’re born in life. In other words, they tell us children who do poorly are those from lower socioeconomic environments and the children who do better are from higher income homes. But the reality is that there are plenty of people like me who grew up dirt poor and have become successful and plenty of people from very well–to–do parents who have fallen into a life of misery. The difference between the successful and unsuccessful comes down to motivation.”
Dr. Whitney speaks from his experience growing up in a Washington, D.C. ghetto.
“I was one of the gang,” he says. “If the other kids were doing it, I was doing it.”
Then one summer as he was about to enter his freshman year in high school, Whitney was inspired by legendary high school coach Morgan Wooten during a week–long basketball camp.
“Coach Wooten taught us that if you want to make something out of your life, you have to do what’s right and not follow the crowd. When that camp was over, I realized I needed to change and I stopped hanging around the deadbeats.”
It was this change in his attitude and motivation that led to his academic achievements that helped him earn college scholarships.
Looking to the future, the mission of Motivating Our Students Texas, Inc. and its G.A.M.E.R. Program, is to assist the public school system in their mission to ensure all students have access to quality education enabling them to become productive citizens both socially and economically. The program organizes and provides funding for three age–appropriate educational learning expeditions (field trips) each year. One expedition is to an institution of higher learning in Bexar County, one to a U.S. Military facility and the final expedition is to a local place of business or industry. During these trips, students get the opportunity to see real people in a real workplace environment, learn the range of salaries for particular types of jobs and are encouraged to vision the possibility of themselves in a fun job that pays an above average salary.
“The change in our 3rd, 4th and 5th graders is phenomenal,” says Liz Pineda, Interim Principal at Five Palms Elementary School Principal in the South San School District. “The GAMER Program gives students something to look forward to. Discipline problems have dropped dramatically. Students come back from these field trips with a different feeling towards education. A feeling they don’t get at home or from their peers. They see and hear the difference why they need to do their homework and respect their teachers. They’ve learned from people, other than their teachers, that it’s not wrong to do these things whether they have role models at home or not.”
In addition, the G.A.M.E.R. Program arranges for five motivational speakers per year in participating public schools to discuss both academic and non–academic keys to success. Examples of non–academic keys to success is the importance of being on time, the importance of avoiding drugs, alcohol, unplanned pregnancies, criminal activity and the like. Talks last just 30 minutes and are tied to the students’ curriculum.
Norma Jean Scarcliff, Principal at Carvajal Elementary in the San Antonio School District, says the children really enjoy speakers coming to talk with them. One of the biggest impacts for the students is being able to hear from other people. Of particular note is business professionals and U.S. Air Force personnel.
“They gave the same messages their teachers have been telling them about a good education leading to a job that’s fun to do and brings them a good salary,” Scarcliff says. “They hear that they have to stay out of trouble with the law and stay away from drugs if they want their dreams to come true. For most of the students here, other than their teachers, the speakers from the G.A.M.E.R. Program are the only professionals they’ve ever seen.”
