RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas-- –
Choosing school over being "cool" is a hard decision to make as an adolescent student. That decision is even harder to make when a guiding parental figure is non-existent.
Randolph's Giving Americans Motivational Education for the Real World program hosted 30 elementary, middle and high school students from the Texas-based Boysville foster care group to discuss the importance of education and significance of abstaining from the pressures of drugs and alcohol.
GAMER exposes at-risk students to the successes that can be attained by taking advantage of opportunities and making the right decisions. By listening to Airmen who have overcome similar obstacles, the students, who have been ordered by the state into foster care for abandonment or inadequate parenting, are taught that they, too, can be successful.
"Bad things happen that aren't your fault," said Maj. Joel Neeb, 12th Operations Group T-38C Pilot Instructor Training branch chief and GAMER event coordinator. "Don't let the situation define who you are; let the decisions you make define the situation."
Major Neeb was the first of four speakers to explain how decisions the students make now will have impacting consequences that could be helpful or damaging to a successful career.
By showing the students the movie "Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag," which portrays air operations during a major training exercise at Nellis AFB, Nev., Maj. Neeb emphasized that if he didn't make "uncool" decisions and separate from negative influences to stay focused in school, he wouldn't be able to have such a "cool" job now.
"You have to set boundaries on the things you do to have fun to keep your dreams alive," said Major Neeb.
Retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Dewayne Thomas, who volunteers at a juvenile detention center, discussed the risks of experimenting with drugs and premarital sex.
"Life's not all about the things you see on TV," said Thomas.
Tech. Sgt. Sam Look, Air Force Personnel Center, and Senior Airman Christian Alexis, 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron firefighter, shared their experiences as well. Sergeant Look, whose family has a history of drugs and alcohol abuse, and Airman Alexis, a Judson High School graduate, were able to exemplify how challenges similar to those of the students have been overcome by making the right decisions.
Faith Green, Boysville Education Coordinator, explained that programs like GAMER are a great means of motivation for the students.
"It's always good to have outside positive reinforcement," said Ms. Green.
Through GAMER, Randolph's 12th Flying Training Wing has reached out to over 8,000 students in the local area.
"In life, there's no easy button," said Major Neeb. "We have one opportunity to make our future whatever we want it to be. What I want to resonate with the children is that they all get one shot."
Esther, a Boysville freshman, explained how she learned from the choices other people made and how those choices affected them.
"We need to choose what we do and not let our situation choose for us," said Esther.
Boysville eighth grader Jacob also understood the message.
"The most importing thing I learned is that you have one opportunity," said Jacob. "Choices you make now can affect the rest of your life."