News
The Value of Emotional Intelligence
Nearly 700 graduate students and undergraduates received degrees in 90-degree-plus heat during the May 30 Commencement ceremony on the College Mall.
Five-hundred seventy five students were candidates for the baccalaureate degree and 119 students were candidates to receive the master’s degree. Six students were recipients of the Elmhurst Life Skills Academy Certificate.
“You came not to be stamped out, you came to achieve an effective individuality,” said President S. Alan Ray. “This is the hour to celebrate who you have become. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to create your Elmhurst Experience."
The Doctor of Humane Letters, an honorary degree, was presented to Mary Dempsey, commissioner of the Chicago Public Library. Serene Jones, president of the faculty and Roosevelt Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary in New York also receive the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.
Gail Mattox ’72, chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and professor of clinical psychiatry at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, received an honorary Doctor of Science degree and delivered the Commencement Address, “The Value of Emotional Intelligence.” Here is what she said:
Commencement Address
Good Afternoon President Ray, platform guests, faculty, family, friends and most importantly the graduates, the class of 2010. It is indeed an honor and a privilege to stand before you today to celebrate this joyous occasion. I am especially excited to join you as I reflect upon my own graduation in 1972. I am indeed a proud graduate of Elmhurst College. I am truly thankful for the guidance, support and excellent education that I received here at Elmhurst. It was an exciting time and the experience has shaped my future as it will yours. You have succeeded; you have earned your degree and now is the time to feel proud and thankful, especially to your family and friends who have supported you along the way.
Now you are ready to step out and to take your place in our changing society. I hope that your goals are to bring about change in small or large ways, through service and or leadership. You are our future. We look forward to your contributions, we value your views, your vision and we know you can and will make a difference. There are many challenges in our society, yet there are also exciting opportunities. You can make a difference in the national statistic that only sixty percent of students graduate within five years. You can reach back to encourage and motivate others to accomplish what you have now accomplished. And there are other areas to address such as poverty, health care, national security, and the economy. You name it, it is there.
There are numerous opportunities for you to use your talents and skills to make a difference. Whatever you are passionate about, let that be your guide. And if you are still developing a passion, remain open and flexible to exploring diverse opportunities. There may be anxiety along the way coupled with excitement as you explore your next steps. I know I was excited yet anxious about the next phase of my life. Although accepted into medical school, I wondered, can I do this? What is expected of me? I wanted to help others, I wanted to serve, I enjoyed science and I was willing to work hard. And in essence, I found that this is what truly mattered in the end.
So as you move forward, what advice can I give you? I can sum it up in two words; professionalism and determination. Professionalism is an essential trait, it is that quality which drives a person's personal and professional interactions, it provides others a sense of who you are. It allows you to remain calm and rationale no matter what the behavior is of those around you. Professional behavior reflects ethical behavior and it allows you to stand up for yourself and your ideals while respecting others. Determination is firmness of purpose, resolve, perseverance.
As you encounter challenging people and challenging situations, it is how you address such challenges that will impact upon your accomplishments and your goals. This is where emotional intelligence comes in to play. You may have the intellect, perseverance and determination to succeed but your emotional intelligence can help you along the way. In many ways it will be your emotional intelligence that will determine several outcomes. A quote by Daniel Goleman captures this. “If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you don’t have self awareness, if you are not able to manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have empathy and have effective relationships, then no matter how smart you are you are not going to get very far.” By valuing your emotional intelligence, you can become more productive. This means recognizing and managing your own emotions, motivating yourself, being sensitive to the emotions of others and managing relationships.
The key components of emotional intelligence include self awareness, which is the ability to recognize ones’ emotional response and the emotions of others, to reflect upon this and to self regulate, to adapt, to remain flexible and to maintain integrity. Emotional intelligence also includes self motivation, perseverance, persistence and commitment. Recognizing your strengths and weaknesses and maintaining optimism. Emotional intelligence involves social awareness, such as empathy, sensitivity to others and their perspectives, taking an active interest in listening. And emotional intelligence includes social skills, such as communication, collaboration, how well you handle yourself and how well you handle interacting with others. What is the value of emotional intelligence? With emotional intelligence you are more productive and resilient and your interactions can be less stressful.
By valuing your emotional intelligence you will in essence incorporate professionalism and determination. So in summary, strive for excellence, maintain integrity, find your passion,stay committed, be flexible, accept change, celebrate each milestones in your life, value your relationships,and take care of yourself . I am confident that each one of you will make a difference and I leave you with this quote from Albert Einstein: “Strive not to be a success but rather to be of value.” Enjoy the journey, have fun in the process. Congratulations Class of 2010!
