You can usually find Thalia Jones sitting at the resident assistant desk in Deerfield, skating around campus, or GIVING US LIFE on the dance floor. Her name itself evokes a sense warmness. Friendship. And all around slay-age. I myself have had the pleasure of getting to know this gem! I’m Ebony, and she’s Ivory, it’s a thing. Join HC Berry as we formally introduce you all to the fierceness that is Thalia Jones!
Name: Thalia (TUH-lee-uh) Jones
Graduation Year: 2018
Hometown: Grayson, GA or Montclair, CA
Major: P-12 education and Spanish & TEFL/ dance minor
Activities: ESL, residence life, Pathways, Blades of Berry, and sometimes swing and ballroom.
What made you feel like Berry was the right place for you to be:
“I came to a Discover Berry during the weekday. I was sitting in dining hall eating with my aunt, and she said, “They have some good pizza.” Then I thought I better check it out. They were serving macaroni and cheese pizza, and it was the best thing I’ve ever had. I decided that this school was for me. Unfortunately, I was deceived, and now it is too late to transfer. Jokes aside the campus is beautiful, and just being able to say that I graduated from Berry seemed like a challenge. I love to challenge myself, so I decided that this school was worth it. I also like the unspoken religious feel to the school because my faith is important me. I liked the idea of a school that shared my values and being around like minded people.”
You and I both know you like to drop it, pick it back up, and drop it one more time. What’s your fav Berry dance event:
“I would have said ESPUMA because last year that was the only real dance that I woke up the next day sore from. It was so much fun, and the DJ was playing straight fire. It was more diverse music than typical Berry dances. However, I went to Bailamos this year and oh my gosh. That dance was amazing because I danced all night long. I think I only sat down twice. The music was great, and the food was out of this world. It was overall the best.”
Now, you’re an RA (the best one, I might add), what’s your favorite part of the job:
“My favorite part is when my residents tell me I’m the best. I go out of my way to be in their lives and really try to make that community environment. It’s just nice to know that my hard work is appreciated. I also love my girls a lot, and I am happy to know I have made new friends because of it. Being a first year RA on an upperclassmen hall could’ve gone very wrong very fast, but thankfully it worked out for the better.”
What made you want to be an RA:
“Honestly, the only reason I am an RA is because my best friend, Annabeth Sadler, is an RA. I used to sit desk shifts with her, and I thought to myself I can do this. Annabeth is definitely the reason. Also that paycheck is real nice because working two jobs last year was stressful, and I wasn’t making nearly as much money as I am with this one job. The added responsibility and stress make the job harder than most and more than a little rewarding.”
I know you have a passion for teaching and helping, but when did you know that was the path for you:
“Well when I was younger people would always tell me how I was good with kids, or the younger ones in my church would always flock to me whenever I was around. I didn’t actually know what I wanted to be, so there I was senior year of high school trying to figure out where to apply and what major I was looking for. I just decided that if I’m good with kids, then I guess I can be a teacher. I don’t regret that decision because I love the little boogers. They’re so cute, and it makes sense that I become a teacher. I had some bad and good experiences with teachers in high school so I want to be an educator that sets an example of excellence and makes a difference to those students that are often overlooked, like I was.”
Who do you look up to when times are getting kind of hard, and you need an extra push to keep going:
“Annabeth Sadler for sure is my rock because we tell each other everything. My friends for sure help me through. Most importantly though God is my strength. I often tell people that Jesus is the only thing getting me through rough times and keeping me from losing my mind. I pray and read my Bible, and that is the only thing that stops me from cursing somebody out or lashing out at those around me.”
If there was a piece of advice you could give to your freshmen self, what would it be:
“Homework is not optional. Sometimes you have to tell your friends no, so you can do your work. You are paying too much money to go to this school to not be making good grades. Especially, when your friends are doing fine and you aren’t. Your friends’ GPAs aren’t going to suffer with yours. It’s just you and your grades. You are the only one affected by your academic decisions.”
What’re your plans after graduation:
“I don’t know. I struggle to make decisions. My ideal plan would be to go abroad and teach English or pay off my student loans working in the states then go abroad. Then go to Grad school to specialize in ESOL education. Either way I want to get out of this country to come back and be an over qualified ESOL teacher in the U.S.”