Why Emotional Intelligence Should Be a Required Class by Jelisa

Why Emotional Intelligence Should Be a Required Class by Jelisa - June 2025 Scholarship Essay

There’s a reason so many people struggle to communicate, manage their emotions, or handle stress, and it’s not because they didn’t pass English, science, or math. It’s because they were never taught how to understand themselves or others. Emotional intelligence (EQ), including emotional regulation, should be a required class in schools. While we’re taught how to solve math problems and write essays, we’re not given the tools to deal with real-life challenges like conflict, anxiety, or self-awareness. That’s a problem.

Many students go through school without ever learning how to identify what they’re feeling or how to manage it in a healthy way. Instead, we push emotions aside, explode under pressure, or shut down completely. If emotional intelligence was a class, students could learn how to recognize their feelings, calm themselves during stress, and make better decisions. These are skills we carry for life, not just in school, but in relationships, careers, and personal growth.

Another reason EQ should be required is because it would improve how students relate to each other. So many arguments, fights, and bullying situations happen because people don’t know how to communicate or handle conflict. Teaching students' empathy, boundaries, and how to resolve disagreements without violence or disrespect could shift the whole culture of schools. We spend so much time focusing on grades, but emotional well-being plays a big part in a student’s success.

Lastly, emotional intelligence supports mental health. We’re seeing more young people dealing with depression, anxiety, and burnout; and part of the reason is they’ve never been taught how to cope. If emotional intelligence was built into the school day, students would have a safe space to explore their feelings and learn healthy ways to process them. That could prevent so many problems down the line and even save lives.

In the end, emotional intelligence is just as important as reading or math, and a whole lot more. It’s the foundation for healthy relationships, strong communication, and personal growth. If we really want to prepare students for the real world, we need to teach them more than facts, we need to teach them how to understand themselves and others. Making emotional intelligence a required class would be a powerful first step.