RA*Chat Ep 150: Winter is Coming: Wrapping Up & Looking Ahead

As the semester winds down and winter break approaches, in this episode of Roompact’s RA*Chat Dr. Asha Jones guides listeners through the essential practice of year-end reflection, offering practical strategies for processing the past year’s experiences and setting intentions for the future. She explores how to navigate end-of-year stress and use winter break for both rest and renewal. Dr. Jones’ carefully curated playlist is designed to support reflection, relaxation, and rejuvenation, helping listeners transform their winter break from mere downtime into a powerful period of restoration and renewal.

Guest: Asha’ Jones (she/her/hers), Associate Director, NASPA

Host: Anthony Martinez

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Transcript:

Anthony Martinez:
Welcome back to Roompact’s Res Ed Chat. Today is a special RA chat edition where we talk about issues of importance to RAs and student staff members and housing and residence life. Today’s episode is called Winter is Coming, Wrapping Up and Looking Ahead. We’ll be talking about what it means to close out a semester well and prepare for the spring.
And today, I have a very special guest with me who I was inspired by their LinkedIn post. So, again, very excited to have them here on the podcast, Dr. Jones. So, Dr. Jones, if you would like to introduce yourself right now and tell the students all the amazing things that you have done to get into your position and where you’re at now.

Asha’ Jones:
Hey, I hope your day is going amazing. But as Mr. Martinez said, my name is Dr. Asha’ Jones and I serve as the Associate Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion at NASPA. However, I do want to point out that my views today are my views, not necessarily reflective of NASPA or any entity that I work for. My journey to student affairs was kind of interesting. I came into student affairs, not in a kind of non-traditional way. There was a department shutdown in the government back in 2009, and I was working with a mentor at that time and she was making me come to school with her at the University of Utah and volunteer with her.
And so, I began volunteering with her, like helping her advice the Black Student Union. And I’ll be honest, I was getting a little bit irritated because I’m like, “Hey, why am I helping and I don’t get paid for this.” And little did I know that was my entryway into student affairs. And so, she was taking a job at another institution, at another local institution in Utah, and she had went to the VP at that time and said, “Hey, Asha’ has been doing the work, how about you put her in this job as an interim role and see how she does? And then, if it works out, give her the position.”
So, I took the role as the interim position and I did not get the permanent role, which was, it was a little bit hard to bask in that. But the thing is, they wanted somebody that had an MED and I had an MBA. And at that time, they didn’t feel that the two coincided together, which really it did. And so, then another person on campus by the name of Dr. Paula Smith, came to me and she said, “Hey, I want to teach you how to write grants. If you learn how to write grants, it’ll lead you any job you want in higher ed.” And I said, “Okay.” She said, “But I can only give you this job for a year. I’m going to guarantee you funding for a year outside of that. I cannot promise you anything after that.” And I said, “Okay.”
So, she took me in. I started learning how to write grants. She showed me how to write a lot of K through 12 grants. She showed me how to write a lot of grants for current students at an institution. And then, a position opened up at my alma mater, Weber State University called student-to-student. And it was a pipeline to help undocumented students have access to the institution and build retention programs at the institution
So, then I went to Weber State University and became that coordinator and stayed there for two or three years I think it was. And then, I took a job because I was a part of the TRIO programs, Upward Bound, Langston University, Historically Black College in Langston, Oklahoma. I had a position of the director of Upward Bound. And I actually met the vice president of Student Affairs at a NASPA conference, my first NASPA conference in Arizona that I had ever attended. And he had been recruiting me for the position for a year and a half. And I was like, “I don’t want to move to Oklahoma. I already live in Utah. Why would I move to Oklahoma?”
And so, anyway, funny story, that night was… Excuse me, that week, I was watching the Oklahoma Thunder play, and I was like, “If they win this week, then I think I’m supposed to go to Oklahoma.” And they won. And I was like, “Okay.” So, I took the position and I stayed there for two years. And then, I went to another institution and then journeyed on over to San Diego State University prior. And then, came and at San Diego State University, I had several different roles, disability services director, interim director of the identity centers they had at the institution, and then special assistant to the vice president of Student Affairs.
And now, you’re probably thinking like, “How does this all relate to RA stuff? And how do all her positions because she never worked in the residential halls?” Well, the beauty of all my positions is I got to do a lot of the trainings from trainings within the residential hall staff. And I did a lot of the different trainings and projects that they would do to engage students in the curriculum throughout the academic year.
And it’s funny because… It’s funny to me now to see my journey as to where I am now because I was the student that the RAs probably were like, “Oh, my God, we cannot wait until she leaves this campus.” I was absolutely ridiculous in college. One night, we played a trick on the boys, on the football team. We put chairs in the elevators so they couldn’t get up and down. One day, we put water buckets in front of their door. We did a variety of things that I probably, probably won’t even share, but we did it a variety of things.
So, my RA was not the most excited with me at all, at all times. But then, I got to become a community assistant and work the front desk. And then, I thought, “Oh, my gosh, I cannot believe I was so terrible to my RAs because I didn’t have to deal with everything that the RAs dealt with.” But as a community assistant, I got to see the students coming in before they hit their floor, my other peers before they hit their residential hall floor.
And so, I say all of that to say, even though I wasn’t an RA, I think that my story can help you all to be able to stay strong as the end of the semester comes through when winter is coming. Winter is coming, and you have to think about winter in a lot of different ways. And then, I know we’ll go into some questioning, but winter is a great time.
I think of winter, spring and summer are my favorite times because in spring everything’s blossoming, everything’s blooming. Summer, you can just be outside and enjoy the earth. But there’s something special about winter because… And during the time of winter, the world kind of relaxes, the earth kind of relaxes, right? And there’s these things that are happening under the ground that can only happen during a time of rest and reflection.
And so, I think about if you live in a snowy part of the world, then there’s this snow that’s on the ground that’s covering up everything that’s allowing the ground to rest. And so, I think that when you allow the ground to rest and you are the ground and you allow that time to rest, Dr. Cynthia Dillard talks about the spirit of our work. The book that she has about recollecting, remembering and rest, but she puts parentheses are around the R-E to emphasize those are the most parts because you’re re-energizing yourself, you’re re-reflecting yourself. And I use a lot of her work in my dissertation work and also in the work that I do in higher ed.
And so, I say all of that to say that you know that winter is coming, don’t look at winter as a bad time. Look at winter as a time of the ground is re-fertilizing and you are the ground. You’re allowed to take your time to take your rest and reflect, to be able to go back into the next semester and come through with energy. And so, that’s how I would introduce myself before we get started. I hope that’s okay.

Anthony Martinez:
Yes, Dr. Jones, that was amazing. You’re just further emphasizing on why I knew you’d be perfect for this topic. So, thank you for getting us started with your introduction like that. And already you have opened up so much to me and words of wisdom, so thank you. On the same path I want to ask you, why do you think it’s important, and you kind of touched on this towards the end of why it’s important for RAs to pause and reflect instead of just like rushing into a break.

Asha’ Jones:
So, I think about a couple of songs, and I’m thinking about a song because I’m a music fanatic. And so, I want to relate it back to a song. And I think it would be about… I would take it back to maybe Brandy, Full Moon. I don’t know if you’ve heard that song, and some of you may have heard that song. But when you think about that song, it’s about symbolic of cycles and transitions and bringing the sense of new beginnings.
And I think to answer that question that if you relate that back to that song in particular, it gives you a time to really go back and reflect because some people say, “Oh, the full moon, people get a little weird out in the world.” That is true too, right? But a full moon allows the things to brighten up and for you to see things clearer. So, if you’re looking at things from a perspective of a full moon, I think that will allow you the time to really kind of connect, reflect, and rest. Does that make sense?

Anthony Martinez:
Yes, yes, it does. And I’ll be sure to find that song too, make sure we include that there. They can listen to it in the background.

Asha’ Jones:
Yeah, yeah.

Anthony Martinez:
And then, to just know more about you, and you kind of touched about it, what’s one lesson you’ve carried from you from your early student leadership days? And I know you mentioned that and becoming CA and everything into your professional career. So, how has that helped you in your moments of reflection lead into now?

Asha’ Jones:
One of the things that I pride myself in is I stay true to me. Nipsey Hussle says, “Stay 10 toes down.” And I say, “10 toes down and who I am.” I don’t change my personality because of the rooms that I’m in. I bring my personality into the rooms I’m in. And let me be very clear on that. I’m not saying that how I talk to my friends on… I tell people all the time from the streets to the suites, I can flow either way. If we’re on the streets, I can have that convo. If we’re in the suites, I can have that convo. But I don’t change who I am, dependent on the room I’m in. I check the temperature of a room.
And that’s one of the things that I’ve learned as a student leader myself and as a leader, is not to change who I am, but check the temperature of that room because who I am may not be ready for that particular room at that time. And it’s not to say that it won’t come, but if you’re in a meeting, for example, with a student or with a colleague and the situation is heated, I can’t bring thug life with me to that meeting, right? I have to bring a softer version of me to that meeting.
And that doesn’t mean I’m changing who I am. I’m still staying true and standing tall to who I am, but understanding the room that I’m in to be able to check the temperature of that room. I check the temperature of that room, but then I’m also checking the temperature of me. And I think that that is one of the things I try to pride myself on, is just remembering who I am at all times and remembering what I bring to a table and what I don’t need to leave at a table, and also what tables that I may not even need to serve at anymore. And I think that comes in when you’re authentically who you are.

Anthony Martinez:
Okay, Dr. Jones. So, my next question for you is, if you could challenge every RA listening to focus on one area of growth next semester, what would it be?

Asha’ Jones:
One of the things that I think about a lot is people are really engaged in titles of things right now in the world that we live in. And so, one of the things that I would say is one powerful area of growth for student leaders and student affairs professionals, whether they be faculty or staff, is learning to balance influence with responsibility.
It’s common for new leaders to get excited about having a title or a platform or a chance to organize and direct others. But the real leadership growth comes, Anthony, when they recognize that their role is less about control, is more about serving. It’s more about empowering. It’s about stewarding the trust of their peers. And I think that growth can really look like shifting from me to we, moving beyond personal recognition and creating a collective success for everybody that’s there right at the table.
And then, developing accountability, understanding that every decision has a ripple effect on people, the culture and the outcomes. And then, practicing humility and listening. One of the things that I talk with my dad about, because he’s a great person, my adopted dad, but sometimes he listens to respond and not listens to hear.
So, when you practice humility and listening, it’s realizing that the best leaders amplify the voices, amplify other voices rather than dominate them. And I think that moves you from the me to we. And that alert that helps you to really move from that perspective of learning how to use your balance and your influence responsibility. It’s great to have a title, don’t get me wrong. And it’s great to have a platform, but if you have a platform and you have no ethical value to you, then what’s really your platform? Then, what’s really your title? They go hand in hand. You can’t open a door without the right key.
So, you have to have the right keys of balance and the balance of your influence and your responsibility. And then, once you get that key to open that door, that door, then you open the other keys that I’ve talked about, the serving, the empowering, the stewarding or trust of other people. And I think those are the key things that we really have to look at.

Anthony Martinez:
Yes, yes, doctor. I love that you are just talking about allowing the students to reflect and figure out, talking about 10 toes down, who are you? We’re having that reflection of like, “What are my values? What do I stand for? What does that look like?” And so, using this break, this time, this moment before we move into spring to figure out now that they’ve had this experience of like, “Who am I? What am I valuing? What do I value?” Et cetera. So, this is great. Thank you.

Asha’ Jones:
You’re welcome.

Anthony Martinez:
My next question is around winter break time, we’re talking about rest, but there can also be a time of anxiety about what’s next. So, how do you personally recharge between these busy seasons as well?

Asha’ Jones:
So, one of the things I’m big on, and if you ever get a chance to read my dissertation or anybody that listens to this gets to, I mean, I know dissertations are boring, but mine is pretty cool in my own personal opinion, right? But I do a lot of journaling and I think that one of the things that I talk about in my dissertation is memos, mentors… Excuse me, memos, mentors and music. And the way that I do that is I have these memos that I’ve written out that really become my music, and they also become my mentor.
And so, one of the things that I try to do to relax and rest is I do a lot of writing on my downtime. And it doesn’t have to be this long journal of pages and pages. It can be really one sentence, “Today, I felt such and such. Or tomorrow, I hope for this.” And that does a couple of things. When you turn your memo into music, that becomes your mentor. It actually becomes your mosaic of life, and it becomes that piece of storytelling so that you can tell the next generation of people behind you how you were able to navigate this and move forward in life.
And so, I think, excuse me, that’s one of the things that I truly try to do when during my downtime is reading. I’m a huge football fan, so I know you’re at UT, but I’m an Alabama girl, so I’m going to always roll with the Tide, right? Even when the Tide sometimes doesn’t roll the way that I want it to roll. In the last couple of years, it has not done that. But I say that all to say is that being all jokes aside, the Tide always rolls forward no matter which way that looks, right?
So, I’m saying that I spend a lot of time during the winter break is great because there’s lots of college football still on, so I’m watching sports, I’m having fun watching that. I’m talking trash with my friends from other SECC schools like, “We’re back on top.” And I just try to find the fun things in life. I used to live in San Diego. And so, when I was in San Diego, I would go to the beach every day. That was my jam. I’m not one to get in the water because I don’t play with Ariel and her friends. So, Sebastian and them can have everything that’s under the sea. I don’t want no parts of that, right?
However, the water was very calming to me. And so, and I do a split base of San Diego and where I am now, right? But whenever I try to do that, I try to get near water. Water is very calming to me, and that’s one of the pieces that I use is water to kind of calm my spirit, to kind of calm my… Water can tell you a lot of things, Anthony. Water can tell you when there’s danger. Water can tell you when there’s calm. Water can tell you when there’s joy. Water can tell you when there’s peace.
And so, I try to focus on those things during my downtime. And then, I try to have fun every day in life, whether that’s just dancing to some random song or just finding something to find laughter in, whether that’s baking cookies for my family or hanging out with friends and cooking and doing those things. I just try to do chill things during my downtime to kind of recharge myself that don’t take a lot of brain power because we’re using a lot of brain power during the academic year, right? You’re navigating people. You’re navigating systems. You’re navigating politics, especially with the world that we live in currently right now. It’s wild in these streets, right?
And so, you have to find really times that time where you can take your breath and move. I’ve started to tap into meditation. I’m officially at 5 minutes, which is very exciting for me because a couple of months ago, I think I was only at 30 seconds that I could calm my brain down for 30 seconds. But meditation has been really helpful just to calm down and draw myself back in. And so, I’ve been doing a lot of that lately.

Anthony Martinez:
Thank you. That was amazing. Thank you, Dr. Jones. Now, I feel like I need to go to the ocean and I feel like I’m the same. I’m like, “Maybe I’m not playing with Ariel and her friends,” but I feel like I need to have that wash, have that cleanse. So, thank you.

Asha’ Jones:
You’re welcome.

Anthony Martinez:
I know we are running a little bit on time. And so, before we close out, I do want to ask you, if you can leave RAs with one thought of encouragement and our student leaders as they close out this year and prepare for the next year, what would it be?

Asha’ Jones:
Let me think here for a quick second. I have so many thoughts that come to my thing. But to get one thought, let’s see. I’m going to do two, I’m going to do two and let me do this. My favorite quote that I ever heard in my life is, “If I choose to be an infinite person, which I choose to be, I choose to teach people beyond me.” And so, you’re at the perfect opportunity to teach people beyond you by your actions, by the steps that you take in your life.
And so, as you wrap up your semester and prepare for what’s next. I invite you to remember that, that you are an infinite person, and what you’re doing is teaching people beyond you. And remember that leadership is less about perfection and more about growth.
Every late night, every duty call, every hard conversation, every small win with your resident has stretched you in many ways that you may not even realize yet. Take the winter break to truly rest and reflect, not just on what went well, but also on the moments that challenged you because those experiences are shaping you into be… I don’t want to use the word stronger leader, but helping you to become an emotional, intelligent leader, which then builds your strength, right?
Carry those lessons with you, with forward and confidence. And most of all, know that the work you’ve done this semester has mattered. You’ve created a community that supported your peers and modeled resilience, and that goes to the staff that is on that and the faculty that works at institutions. This isn’t just an RA piece. It’s a totality and a holistic approach that helps everyone. The next season, which comes in January, right? We’ll bring new opportunities and you’ll be more ready for them than you think.
You have to trust in what you learn, or and trust in what you’ve learned, trust in who you are, trust in why you are where you are, and lean into your purpose because your purpose leads you to your promise. But I want to say that sometimes when you’re getting to your promise and your purpose, Rob Base would say, “There’s a little bit of joy and pain, sunshine and rain.” And that does happen.
However, excuse me, excuse me, excuse me, sorry. Step boldly into the spring because it’s your time, it’s your season to be able to step into the totality of what your next is, because winter has came, but spring is next. So, everything that happened in winter while you were resting, reflecting and remembering, now is about to pop off the trees. You’re going to start having flowers blooming everywhere. The trees are going to start to come back full green. So, you get to see the transition from winter to spring.

Anthony Martinez:
Dr. Jones, that was great. Thank you. I got chills when you said, “Leadership is not about perfection, it is about growth.” I will probably see you on some TikTok edits. The students will see this, and you’ll have your own inspirational edits going around. So, thank you.

Asha’ Jones:
And I would just add in just two songs. So, I’m a music person, so if you were to create a playlist for them, here’s four songs that I would give that would help the staff, the faculty, and the RAs to feel more hopeful and reflective and empowering. I would think India Arie, Strength Courage & Wisdom is a soulful reflection about lessons learned and stepping into the future with confidence.
And then, Alicia Keys, Brand New Me. It’s the perfect idea of carrying forward lessons and embracing the new season. And then, Mary J. Blige, Just Fine, uplifting, celebratory, affirming that they’ve got what it takes to do this. And then, Anthony Hamilton, Better Days, hopeful. It acknowledges challenges, but leans into what’s ahead. And so, I would say, if you were building them a mini playlist, these are some of the songs that I would put on that playlist for them.

Anthony Martinez:
Oh, yeah, and we’ll make that happen. Dr. Jones, thank you, again. I love the incorporation of music and all the words of wisdom you have for our students today. I did want to ask before we close out, how can students and people watching connect with you after this?

Asha’ Jones:
Okay, there’s a couple of ways you can get to me. I’m on LinkedIn under Asha’ Jones, so you can get to me there, or you can email me at ajones@naspa.org. If you want to talk student affairs, you want to talk leadership, you want to talk about life, whatever it is that you want to talk about, I don’t care. Come to me. If I have something that I can share, then I’ll be so grateful to do that.

Anthony Martinez:
Thank you, Dr. Jones. Again, thank you for joining us on this episode of the Res Ed Chat. If you have any ideas or topics or individuals you would like for me to interview, go on and reach out to us here at Roompact. We’ve got more tips and tools and stories coming your way the following year, and as we have another episode coming out again pretty soon, next month. So, until then, remember to reflect on all the great things you’ve accomplished, and we’ll see you next time.