Excerpt from Turning on the Lights: Part II.4.b Emotional Intelligence
Leadership requires emotional intelligence!
MESA Creator Barbara was a Latina first-generation college student. She faced many challenges in her journey in academics and life. Spanish was her first language, and she was raised by her mother in a single-parent home. At San Diego City College she began her studies in basic skills English and mathematics. But her life changed when she joined our MESA Program and was trained in the learning culture. She began excelling academically and kept moving closer to transferring to a 4-year university. In reflecting on her learning culture experience, Barbara shared, “The learning culture has helped me to unlock my potential. MESA has provided me with guidance, and it has helped to focus me on my goals and career interests. MESA has also challenged me to strive for excellence in everything that I do, and it has helped to open opportunities for me. I now feel very motivated and inspired to achieve my goals. I am a MESA Creator!” When Barbara was working in my office on her applications to summer research programs, she suddenly looked up and said, “Boy Corner Man, these last two weeks I have had to work so hard on my emotional intelligence and mental toughness.” It was clear that Barbara owned the learning culture, including emotional intelligence! She never imagined being eligible for transfer, and she certainly never dreamed of participating in a research program. Yet in the two summers prior to transfer, Barbara participated in summer research programs at the University of Southern California and at Oregon State University. She then transferred to the University of California San Diego in Marine Biology!
Barbara is a UC San Diego marine biology graduate and a STEM professional!