Tempris Daniels- Letter of Promise Reflection

I am incredibly grateful and humbled by the two letters of promise written by Derek
Bundy, Student Involvement Advisor for the Center for Leadership and Involvement at The
University of Chicago and fellow graduate student, Allison (Ally) Schipma from Loyola
University Chicago. I had the pleasure of working with Derek for over the past year, serving as
the graduate assistant and Ally as a co-chair for HESA events committee, colleague of the
program, and friend. Their words of kindness and belief in my ability as a higher education
professional has attributed to my leadership and communication skills.
Both letters of promise address my strong communication skills, where I have shown
growth in interpersonal skills along with intergroup relations. Specifically, Allys letter
demonstrates the way my welcoming personality and kind spirit provides an impactful
experience for our HESA community while Derek articulated that my enthusiasm within the
department contributes to my work as a young professional. My communication skills have aided
me as I speak about my perspective and listen to others.
My approachability style, capacity to take initiative, and support those around me assists
in my efforts to serve students and the community. Allys further touches on my initiative to
converse with others on ideas and strategies related to the work being done. This quality
demonstrates my ability to critically think, comprehend, and listen to a diverse amount of
perspectives. I am able to achieve great communication skills both in the work I do as a
professional, personally, and in the classroom.
I believe my letters provide positive insights about my growth as a professional as well as
my ability to communicate effectively with students and professional staff. As I reflect on the
kind words about me, I recognize that developing my communication skills does not stop here. I
am grateful for the opportunity I received to develop this competency.