Destined for success

EDITOR's NOTE: This article originally published in The Advocate on Nov. 16, 2011. To view original post, visit AccentAdvocate.com.

Jonathan Wheat had to trade in his football cleats for books to realize the importance of practice.

From the athletic arenas to speech and debate stages, the 21-year-old political science major at Contra Costa College has let little keep him from reaching his goals. But he, so far, may have been his own biggest obstacle.

"I was born into a successful environment," said the Salesian High School graduate and the youngest of four athletic siblings. "At first, I took it for granted — that I can do it without hard work."

But, like he learned running sprints as a wide receiver for the Pride football team and its basketball team's guard, practice is preparation for game time.

"You practice to get ready for the game," he said. "In school, I didn't always make that happen."

Now, as he appeals to transfer to Cal State-Sacramento in the spring, Wheat appreciates the time it takes to prepare before performances.

"Practice, hard work and preparation; it takes dedication to your education to be successful," he said.

Wheat played football for a year at College of Marin before hurting his back. While he was focused on school, but traveling to COM from El Sobrante, Wheat came back to CCC in 2010 and shifted his focus from the playing field to the classroom.

"It was the first time I wasn't playing sports or involved with sports. I didn't have that competition in my life," Wheat said. "I channeled that competitive energy into school."

After a year away from competition, Wheat joined the speech and debate team this semester, but brought the same competitiveness, leadership and dedication he had for sports.

"In sports, you've got to have practice. (Wheat) knows how to practice," said Alfredo Serrano, Wheat's debate partner. "He gives time to the speech team and when it gets to the game or tournament, he's ready. His dedication rubs off on you."

At this semester's first tournament at Santa Rosa Junior College, a first for many competitors on the team, Wheat won first place in extemporaneous speech and was recognized as top speaker.

Wheat joined the team after taking a speech class in the summer. He said professor Marie Arcidiacono, convinced him to join the team and he thought it would help him eventually get to law school.

Michele Escalada, who has been on the team for three semesters, said she first saw Wheat make an impromptu speech earlier this semester and knew he needed to be on the team.

"Little did I know he already was (on the team)," Escalada said. "I saw something in Jonathan we could really go into competitions with. I really believe in Jonathan."

She said Wheat joined the team for personal reasons — growing his knowledge base and improving his speaking and critical thinking abilities — but he also wants to help the team.

"He is on the team to be a part of the team," she said. "He can do a lot of stuff on his own because he has talent, but he has a strong sense of community."

And although she has been on the team longer than the older Wheat, Escalada said he is a leader during preparation for and while at tournaments.

"He pulls us together as a team to win it together," she said. "In terms just of going against other schools, he represents CCC very well."

It was this reason one of Wheat's professors recommended he speak at All College Day in August.

As one of four students invited to speak to all staff, faculty and managers from CCC, Wheat articulated the concerns and thanks of the college's students.

Wheat met college President McKinley Williams before the day and left an impact.

"I was impressed with him. He clearly cares about people," Williams said. "He understands the trials and tribulations on students; he's empathetic.

"I don't see anything standing in his way of being successful."

The largest obstacle currently is transferring to a four-year college.

Wheat applied to CSUS and the University of San Francisco for the spring 2012 semester, but is now appealing to get into CSUS.

He has to show he has a skill enhancing the CSUS environment. His thesis is communicating past religion, ethnicity and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Being on a team with a variety of ages, races and religions, in addition to growing up in West County, Wheat thinks that is one of his strong suits.

After he gets his degrees, Wheat said he wants to embark on political or corporate law, but finish his career working for nonprofit organizations to help low-income youth sports leagues.

"I think sports teach a lot of people," he said. "I found it really easy to connect with people (through sports)."

And his teammates support him all the way.

"Jonathan Wheat is someone who is going places," Escalada said. "Not only for himself, but for his family, career and education. It has been good knowing him because of that."