Former Charger gives leadership introduction to teens during La Jolla event

The Bishop’s School Lucky Ducklings Club – a chapter of the Lucky Duck Foundationa San Diego-based homelessness relief nonprofit – hosted former San Diego Chargers running back Terrell Fletcher for its annual kickoff event on Oct. 28, which brought together Lucky Ducklings clubs from six high schools from around the area on Bishop’s La Jolla campus .

Fletcher, who became a motivational and leadership speaker after retiring from the National Football League in 2002 after eight seasons with the Chargers, headlined the event as the “leadership expert.” He is executive director of the Blanchard Institute, an Escondido-based nonprofit that aims to “bring proven leadership models to people around the world,” according to the organization. website.

The event featured pizza from Timmy’s Place, a pizzeria and printing company that employs homeless youth and was founded by the Lucky Duck Foundation.

“You are all leaders within your schools, communities and San Diego,” Drew Moser, executive director of the Lucky Duck Foundation, told the crowd. “We hope that Terrell Fletcher can open your minds to all that leadership can mean, so that you can all continue to excel as leaders of your own communities.”

Fletcher, who spoke via Zoom, delivered an hour-long leadership workshop that focused on “the importance of mindsets and goal setting” for successful leaders.

Fletcher reflected on his life and path to the Chargers, including his “time of growth and leadership” while playing football for the University of Wisconsin, where he received a scholarship and served as one of the team captains.

He discussed his career with the Chargers, specifically his leadership roles as team union representative and eventual team captain.

“More than anything else I have done in the NFL, I am most proud of being a team captain,” he said.

Although he was “never the biggest, fastest or strongest,” his ability to influence others by “getting the best out of them” got him chosen for that role, he said.

He shared what he believes are the keys to becoming a strong leader, for himself and for others in the community.

“Being an exceptional leader starts from within,” says Fletcher. “It’s all about your mindset and how you set your goals and approach the challenges to those goals. A mindset takes you where you think you belong. If you sell yourself short, you will never be more than that.”

He shared an anecdote about his first week of training camp with the Chargers after being drafted in April 1995. Star linebacker Junior Seau tackled Fletcher and said, “Welcome to the NFL, rookie.”

Afterward, Fletcher said, he felt like he could “never make it” in the NFL and that he “might as well just give up.”

“You see, that was my mentality that kept me from reaching my potential,” Fletcher said. “When I stopped thinking like that and told myself that I belonged in the NFL, along with all the great players, including Junior Seau, I became a much better player. … To be a great person, player, student, leader or whatever, it starts with your mindset.”

Fletcher also discussed the importance of goal setting.

“Nothing happens by accident – someone always has a vision and sets goals,” he said. “One of the best things you can do for yourself, even if it seems simple, is to simply set goals. … Our minds are all hardwired to pursue our goals, so by setting goals you are on your way to achieving them and making a difference in your life and hopefully other lives as well.

Brad LaDrido, a junior at Bishop’s and member of the Lucky Ducklings, called Fletcher’s workshop “very thoughtful, interesting and inspiring. I think Fletcher and this event as a whole will help us all become better leaders as we try to make a difference in the community.”

Will Shea, senior program manager for the Lucky Duck Foundation, provided an overview of upcoming Lucky Ducklings volunteer events in the 2024-2025 school year, including a food and water pack on Saturday, November 23, a San Diego Unified School District sock drive during November and December, and participating in Giving Tuesday on December 3.