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Dr. Relf advocates self-fulfillment in education

Dr. William Relf, the new dean of the School of Business and Economics, gave an energetic speech at the fall Convocation last Friday. “Jesse Jackson just fascinates me,” he said, quoting Jackson’s motto, “let’s keep hope alive.” / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian
Dr. William Relf, the new dean of the School of Business and Economics, gave an energetic speech at the fall Convocation last Friday. “Jesse Jackson just fascinates me,” he said, quoting Jackson’s motto, “let’s keep hope alive.” / photo by Veero Der-Karabetian

by Raechel Fittante
Features Editor

“Take Control of Your Education and Life” was the title of the speech given by Dr. William Relf, dean of the School of Business and Economics, at the Fall Convocation held last Friday in Founders Auditorium.

The Convocation began with an introduction by President Stephen Morgan, during which he welcomed students, staff and faculty back to ULV. Also, Elena Cardeña, the new Catholic campus minister, read an invocation encouraging enthusiasm among students.

Dr. Relf’s speech was designed to be an inspirational piece, offering consulting advice to students so they may make the most out of their years at ULV, as well as increasing the possibility of getting a job after graduation.

“Education prepares us for living, but it also prepares us to make a living,” Dr. Relf said.

With the focus of the speech being on student performance, Dr. Relf described caring at ULV as the main unity factor of what brings students together on campus.

“It [caring on campus] is like softly drizzling rain,” he said, “You don’t get drenched or feel like you’ve been hit by a bucket of water, but you can’t go out without getting wet.”

The speech was divided into four parts: information, intelligence, inspiration and the quest for individual fulfillment. Dr. Relf discussed each part at length to express his vision for a united future.

Information is what students need to develop skills and take control of education to meet their needs in the transmission of civilization.

“We need to become totally immersed in the education process,” Dr. Relf said. “It’s a holistic experience where we integrate many fields.”

Dr. Relf described the student’s primary purpose as “making one’s mind a pleasant place to spend one’s leisure.”

He stressed the importance of developing skills to retain the experiences of lifelong learning. “Narrow specialization is the road to obsolescence and unemployment,” he said.

Intelligence, as described by Dr. Relf, is the potential that each person has, although it is not easy to develop and can be a great challenge.

“Find where your intelligences are,” Dr. Relf said to the listening audience, “You all have potential. Don’t let any test, any idea or any person define who you are.”

Inspiration and self-fulfillment were described by Dr. Relf as essential for the well-rounded background needed for a promising future. He urged the audience to go beyond selfishness and old values and seek spirituality through positivity, mentors and individuality.

“A good way to bring out the best in yourself is to take the time to bring out the best in others,” Dr. Relf said.

To reinforce performance as a major life theme, Dr. Relf used analogies from his own business experience to support the understanding and importance of a widespread education. He suggested random acts of caring as a positive philosophy for students to keep in mind and suggested that some students try to develop some dreams for the future while still at ULV.

“No longer should we pile up skills and knowledge with the idea it’s going to last us a lifetime,” he said. “It’s the interpersonal skills we need to manage corporations and promote change.

Dr. Relf stressed that by taking control of our education we will all be able to serve our individual needs in society.

In his concluding thoughts, he said, “If I could just enrich one person’s life, this talk will have been worthwhile.”

Raechel Fittante, Managing Editor
Raechel Fittante
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Veero Der-Karabetian
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