A Reason to Love January

I live in Minnesota, which makes what I’m about to say completely irrational. 

I LOVE January!

For those not familiar with January in Minnesota, let me paint you a picture. 

The average temperature in January is 15.6 degrees Fahrenheit; our average low is 7.5 degrees (that's without wind chill factored in).  Our lowest January temperature on record is -57 degrees Fahrenheit.

We average 12 inches of snow each January; our record snowfall in a 24-hour period is 36 inches.

We experience only about 140 hours of sunshine during the ENTIRE MONTH of January (that’s an average of less than 5 hours per day).

And worst of all, if we survive January, we still have to make it through February, March and April until we see glimmers of spring once again.

(Shout out to my friends in states like Alaska, North Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming and Maine who can relate!)

Given this, why on earth would I boldly declare that January is my absolute favorite month of the year? The answer is simple; January is when I get to attend the NASPA Strategies Conference.  I look forward to this conference each year the way most children look forward to their birthday (and not just because I get to leave Minnesota). 

In my current role as Assistant Dean of Students, I am immersed in the issues that the NASPA Strategies Conference is designed to address: Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Prevention, Mental Health and Violence Prevention.  In my opinion, the intersection of these issues in higher education has never been as profound or difficult to traverse as it is today.  As such, the Strategies Conferences, and its related Knowledge Communities, has become my professional lifeline.  

With my foot on the gas pedal year-round, the NASPA Strategies conference provides an opportunity for me to refill my metaphorical “gas tank” with more than enough fuel to sustain me year after year. The “fuel” that sustains me comes in a variety of forms:

• Opportunities to connect, learn and debrief with colleagues from across the country around issues integral to prevention;
• Updates on trends and issues that better prepare me to face the changing landscape on my campus;
• Information on new approaches for identifying at-risk students and evidence-based early intervention strategies to address their needs;
• Discussions about creating campus environments where students in recovery no longer have to choose between protecting their sobriety and a college degree;
• Access to evidence-based tools, policies, procedures, programs and practices that are adaptable to my campus environment;
•  Colleagues who are willing to share what worked and more importantly, what didn’t work to address these issues on their campus;
• The impromptu hallway conversation following a breakout session that ignites the spark of a new idea or a new connection, and most importantly;
• The colleagues and friends that I’ve made at the conference over the years who’ve lent a helping hand, inspired me, taught me and challenged me to push out of my comfort zone by presenting, joining a committee….blogging.

I must admit, that I’m still in awe every time I attend this conference that I have the opportunity to learn from and with the professionals (rock stars in my book) that have blazed the path for me and many others in the AOD prevention field.  I’ve found them to be the most approachable, helpful and encouraging colleagues I could ever imagine. 

I hope you’ll consider joining me at the NASPA Strategies Conference this year. I’m confident that once you attend, you’ll begin to look forward to January as much as I do.  You’re gas tank will be full, your battery will be charged and by the time February rolls around, you’ll be more than ready to take on the rest of the year (even if you’re heading back to the Minnesota winter).

Jennifer Sell Matzke, MA, currently serves as the Assistant Dean of Students at St. Cloud State University where she is responsible for oversight of the University’s campus-wide AOD prevention programs and the collegiate recovery program.  She serves as a Deputy Coordinator for Title IX and as co-project director for the St. Cloud Community Alliance; a community coalition focused on the reduction of high-risk drinking and the associated negative impacts in the city of St. Cloud, MN. She has over seventeen years of professional experience in higher education working in areas such as Residential Life, Academic Advising, and Student Orientation.