Before enrolling in ICDC College’s Homeland Security Associate Degree program, Haiden was working a dead-end job in a factory. He proclaims that having no real future, being unhappy, and not making any money led to frustration with his life’s direction. And then he saw a commercial on TV for ICDC College.

He checked out the Homeland Security Associate Degree program and realized that this would give him the necessary tools he’d need to make his dreams of working for the federal government a reality. He applied to ICDC College that day, and two days later was enrolled, but there was one obstacle: he was lacking a high school diploma.

His Student Services advisor immediately put him on the right track to achieve his high school diploma – one of the requirements to enter the associate degree program. Without having that requirement, Haiden said his life “would have been going nowhere, fast.”

“My ICDC College advisors were the most influential and helpful people I’ve ever dealt with in a school facility.”

His favorite classes were ones that had to do with technology and terrorism. After Haiden graduated, he applied for a position at an international security firm with over 100,000 employees. He accepted their offer and became a flex officer – a position reserved only for the most qualified individuals. These courses gave him the tools he needed to be able to design and implement security manuals and solutions for the firms’ clients. He also learned valuable skills on how to write reports and having a professional look for the interview.

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When Blossom Rogers became pregnant at 16, that sadly wasn’t the worst thing that had happened to her by that time in her life. She was already a survivor of sexual molestation, and as a result, felt like an outcast, destined to never fit in, no matter where she went.

She married the father of her child soon after, and had two other kids by him. Blossom soon began dating around, and met a man who was addicted to smoking crack cocaine, but felt she could change him. While she was unprepared at the time for that challenge, the part of her personality that always wants to help people would rise to the surface, but not before she bottomed out.

Her crack addicted boyfriend routinely stole from her, and unable to cure his dependence, became addicted herself. Her life began spiraling out of control. Because of her crack addiction, she asked her mother and grandmother to take care of her children. It was around this time that jail would become a dominant theme in her life.

Her first stint in prison came after she sold drugs to an undercover cop. She was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days. Nine future arrests would net her a total of 15 years of probation, including two years on community control, a form of house arrest where she can leave only for work and also for up to two hours of time at court-approved locations. None of this would matter, though, as she alternated between rehab and jail, being clean or plagued by relapses.

On her last stint in prison, she began a conversation with a pen pal, and upon being released, moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to be with him. However, she started down the same lifestyle again. This time, though, things were a little different. In her own words, she was sick of being tired, and tired of being sick from the wear and tear that the drugs had on her body. By her own admission, though, she kept relapsing because she was trying to get clean for all the wrong reasons.

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Today’s the beginning of my future. I needed to make something better of myself and ICDC College was there for me. Thanks to ICDC, I was able to get that job. My ICDC College experience was the best. They help you with everything. It’s a really good school to go to. It’s the best.

Elizabeth Talledos, HLS, HW

I didn’t want to keep working these little jobs. I finally found something I stayed with.

Camille Desmond, HLS

I met so many great people. The environment was excellent. The staff is great. So I went away with a lot of knowledge, a lot of skills. It was fun.

Crystal Johnson, South Bay campus, Medical Assistant / Physical Therapy Aide

I had the help and support I needed from faculty and staff at ICDC College.

Andrea Natalie Rocha, Van Nuys campus, Business Office Administration

I’ve done things I didn’t think I could do. I made the honor roll; I didn’t do that in high school. I’m Valedictorian today; I didn’t get to do that in high school. So I owe a lot to ICDC. I’m very thankful to you guys. I’m working and it’s such a great experience. Everything I learned in school, I did there from Day 1. I left there fully confident that I was going to be okay. I’m living my life’s dream and I wouldn’t trade it; this is what I’ve always wanted to do.

Sharon Hunter, Hollywood campus, Alcohol and Drug Counseling

ICDC has helped me find employment. It’s a great college. I’m working with domestic violence victims and helping them get stable. My brother is a graduate so I decided to do it myself. I never thought I’d be graduating college and here I am cap and gown and all. I never thought this would be me.

Maria Carmona, Alcohol and Drug Counseling

I’m already 50 years old and I never thought I was going to be able to graduation from anything. But I’m doing it today. I feel so much joy in my heart and I’m so glad I did it.

Roberto Arredondo, Online campus, Alcohol and Drug Counseling

“When I think back on my past life it was not always great, but today I would not trade my past for [anything] in the world for [it] was filled with one tribulation after another such as molestation, rape, child hood trauma. I knew I wanted to help people I just did not know how, but then my wife* and my mother in-law* told me about ICDC College… Now I’m working my dream, and changing lives every day. Bernies Little Women Center gave me my first chance, for which I am grateful. This is true joy, spiritually. What more can I want? And guess what, my GPA was an untarnished 4.0! Man, I think I will go for my Doctorate (Ph.D). There is a fire burning in me that will never be extinguished as long as there are people suffering, I’m looking for the next miracle! Because I know I was! Thanks ICDC.”

Respectively,
Counselor Marvin Guillory

* The names of Counselor’s Guillory’s wife and mother have been intentionally omitted.