The Bishop’s School’s Lucky Ducklings Club — a chapter of the Lucky Duck Foundation, a San Diego-based homelessness relief nonprofit — hosted former San Diego Chargers running back Terrell Fletcher for its annual kickoff event Oct. 28, which brought together Lucky Ducklings clubs from six high schools across the area at Bishops 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 organization that has the goal of “bringing time-tested leadership models to people across the globe,” according to its website.
The gathering featured pizza from Timmy’s Place, a pizzeria and print shop that employs homeless youths and was started by the Lucky Duck Foundation.
“Each of you are leaders within your schools, communities and San Diego, Lucky Duck Foundation Executive Director Drew Moser told the crowd. We hope Terrell Fletcher can open your minds to everything being a leader can mean so you all can continue to excel as leaders of your own communities.”
Fletcher, who spoke via Zoom, gave a one-hour 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 was on scholarship and served as one of the team captains.
He discussed his career with the Chargers, specifically his leadership roles as a team union representative and eventually team captain.
“More than anything else I did in the NFL, I am most proud of being a team captain,” he said.
While he was “never the biggest, fastest or strongest,” his ability to influence others by “getting the best out of them” got him elected to that role, he said.
He shared what he considers the keys to becoming a strong leader for oneself and to others in the community.
“Being an exceptional leader starts from the inside out,” Fletcher said. “It is all about your mindset and how you set your goals and approach the challenges to those goals. A mindset will get you where you believe you belong. If you sell yourself short, you will never be anything 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.”
After that, Fletcher said, he felt he would “never make it” in the NFL and that he “might as well just give up.”
“You see, that was my mindset holding me back from my potential,” Fletcher said. “Once I stopped thinking like this and told myself I belonged in the NFL with all the great players, including Junior Seau, I became a much better player. To be a great person, player, student, leader or really anything, 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 just set goals. Our minds are all hardwired to chase after 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 a 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 be better leaders as we try to make a difference in the community.”
Will Shea, senior program manager for the Lucky Duck Foundation, gave an overview of upcoming Lucky Ducklings volunteer events in the 2024-25 school year, including food and water packing on Saturday, Nov. 23, a San Diego Unified School District sock drive during November and December, and participation in Giving Tuesday on Dec. 3. 