Calendar of Events

March
20	Graduation for STRIVE class #129, 11:00 AM
27	Orientation for STRIVE class #130, 9:00 AM

April
17	Graduation for STRIVE class #130, 11:00 AM
24	Orientation for STRIVE class #131, 9:00 AM

May
12	Financial Freedom Graduation, 6:30 PM
15	Graduation for STRIVE class #131, 11:00 AM
15	Community Job & Resource Fair, 1:00-4:00 PM
16	Adopt-A-House 2009, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Complete calendar of events online

Qualcomm Founder Irwin Jacobs Speaks at Graduation

The graduates from Second Chance's STRIVE class #129 had the opportunity to hear from Irwin Jacobs, the CEO of Qualcomm. He confessed that he really had not intended to start one of San Diego's preeminent corporations when he moved here many years ago. His intention had been to be a professor at UCSD. But a broad vision lead him in a different direction. He urged Second Chance's newest graduates to follow their vision and become great in their own way.

Graduates from upcoming classes will hear from a variety of guest speakers. Supporters and members of the public are also always welcome at graduationsl. All graduations are held at Second Chance and begin at 11:00 AM. Upcoming speakers include:
March 20: Assemblymember Marty Block
April 17: City Councilmember Kevin Faulconer
May 15: City Councilmember Carl DeMaio

From Executive to Second Chance and Back Again

Life has handed Eric some hard blows, and it took awhile for him to recover. In the early 2000s, Eric was married and an executive at Qualcomm. He made very good money, and life was good until his wife was diagnosed with a terminal illness. When his wife died, he sought to reduce the pain with drugs and it didn't take long for things to unravel. He resigned his position and spent three years "bumming around Europe and Asia getting high". Back in the U.S. and unable to stop his addiction, he was arrested and convicted of drug-related charges. He avoided prison and was mandated to attend a recovery program and directed to Second Chance when he was having trouble finding a job.

He admits he started the STRIVE class with the attitude of "I don't need this – I can get a job without a problem". But after the first week, he realized that there was something to be gained from the program. "Second Chance got me back in the habit of being responsible and of showing up each day." For the class, Eric directed the film production each group of students completes; he was frequently a group spokesman and the "leader of the pack". He rediscovered his confidence and realized he enjoyed being responsible again.

After graduating, he wanted to get a job quickly so he answered the call for a carpenter to work at Stu Segall Productions/Strategic Operations despite the fact that he had never worked as a carpenter before. Now that he had "a job", he set a goal of finding a better one. When Mr. Segall discovered Eric was a college graduate, he asked Eric what he was doing working as a carpenter. Eric answered, "Trying to live up to the requirements of my program and expunge a felony". Mr. Segall responded "I don't care what you did yesterday, it's what you plan on doing today and with the rest of your life that matters. Are you interested in using your degree for me?" Shortly thereafter, Mr. Segall promoted Eric from the carpentry shop to the head office.

In January 2008, he was promoted to production manager at Stu Segall Productions/Strategic Operations. In June 2008, he was promoted yet again to vice president of manufacturing.

Eric notes that one of the best things about Second Chance is that it taught him to verbalize and write down his goals, and doing that has helped him get his life back.

This month, Eric has completed the circle and will return to work at Qualcomm as part of the new products team.