Student: Hope is not lost

When Chris Moghaddam was a student at Newport Harbor High School, he and a number of teachers had written off his chances for a college education.

Too insecure to write essays without a teacher’s help, he said his frustrations with schoolwork made him reclusive, insecure and terrified to assert himself and follow — or even consider — his dreams.

“I was afraid of reading,” he said. “If there was an extra credit assignment, I’d never ever want to do it.”

But seven years after making the national dean’s list, graduating from Chapman University with a bachelor’s degree in leadership and organizational studies — not to mention his own marketing and management company — Moghaddam returned to Newport Harbor on Friday to give some advice to other students during the school’s first “Apply Yourself” conference. The students he addressed are in what is known as a Resource Specialist Program, which focuses on struggling students.

The event, organized by program teacher Corrie Rausch, was aimed at helping the students find some direction for their upcoming adult years, whether through a college education, vocational programs or employment.

Through his remarks, Moghaddam self-deprecatingly leveled with the students, encouraging them to establish goals for themselves and begin befriending like-minded students.

“If you asked me if I was going to go to college when I was 10, I probably would’ve laughed,” he said. “Eventually, I started associating myself with people going somewhere…I hung out with a few that weren’t, and they’re still just partying at 25.”

After his presentation, students broke into individual seminars, meeting in groups with representatives from local colleges and employers about their post-graduation options — though the most inspiring part, many said, remained Moghaddam’s lecture.

“It definitely was [inspirational],” Senior Lauren Jarvie, 17, said. “He explained that, maybe if you weren’t the best in high school classes, you still may have a chance when you’re in college.”

“Chris was saying to just go out for your dreams; don’t hold back, that it’s OK to be different because everyone is in some way,” senior Claire Twena, 18, said. “He was saying that if we tried twice as hard as everyone else and didn’t slack off in high school, we could all be like him.”

For all of the praise, Moghaddam conceded after the event that he couldn’t take all the credit for his many successes.

“I tell you, I never would’ve been able to graduate from high school if it wasn’t for Corrie Rausch,” he said. “If I ever make a lot of money, she’s getting a huge swimming pool in her backyard.”

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at [email protected].