December 10, 2024 • 26 mins
Join us as we delve into the heart of NorthStar Academy's community, where Addie and Maia explore their role in student leadership. Listen as they discuss the challenges of communicating in an online school setting and the invaluable lessons learned from embracing diverse perspectives. The joy of collaboration and the fulfillment of helping peers succeed emerge as powerful motivators, painting a vivid picture of what it means to be a student leader at NorthStar Academy. Their experiences are a testament to the enriching opportunities offered by online education, where they manage to balance leadership, collaboration, and personal growth.
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Episode Transcript
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Stephanie Shafer (00:01):
Hi, this is Stephanie Shafer and you're
listening to the NorthStarNarrative, a podcast from
NorthStar Academy.
I want to thank you for joiningus.
I hope you're encouraged,challenged and motivated by what
you learned today.
Enjoy the story.
Hey everybody, thanks so muchfor joining us.
It's another incredible episodebecause we have two NorthStar
(00:25):
students on the show today, andI'm always super, super thrilled
when we get to talk to students, especially those that are on
student council and have been atNorthStar for so long, just
living really incredible livesfor the Lord, and so I get to
welcome today Addie Becker andMaia Coyle.
Both of them have been atNorthStar for such a long time
(00:46):
and have served in so manyincredible ways, so I can't wait
for you to be able to meet them, hear from their hearts and
their experience and just findout some really cool things.
So listen in.
If you are checking outNorthStar online education,
you're going to learn somethings about NorthStar and
online education.
If you are already in NorthStar, you're going to learn some
things about NorthStar andonline education.
If you are already in NorthStar, you're going to learn some
(01:07):
ways that you can get involvedand reasons why you should get
involved in things like studentcouncil at NorthStar.
So here we go.
Thank you, ladies, so much forjoining me.
I would love for each of youjust to take a little bit of
time to introduce yourself andtell us a little bit about your
journey so far in life.
Addie Becker (01:27):
Sure, so my name is Addie.
I am a TCK living in SoutheastAsia and I've been with
NorthStar since sixth grade, soI've been here for a long time
and I've been able to beinvolved in several different
student leadership opportunitiesthat NorthStar offers.
(01:47):
I have been a club leader twice, and last year I served as
student council content creator,and then this year I'm the
student council vice president.
So that's a little bit about me.
Maia Coyle (02:01):
Yeah, so my name's Maia.
I was born in Beijing, China,and my parents ran a church
there.
A few years, when I was aboutnine, we moved to the United
States, and so when I was insixth grade, we found NorthStar
Academy when my sister was goinginto her high school years, and
through NorthStar, I was ableto meet so many amazing people
(02:25):
and really connect with thecommunity that it has, and
through it I've been a part ofthe welcome committee.
I have also been a welcomecommittee leader on student
council, along with thesecretary, and this year I am
the student council president,and so NorthStar has just been
such an amazing place for me toget involved with different
(02:47):
students and meet people allaround the world, and it's
really been a blessing.
Stephanie Shafer (02:52):
Yeah, such a blessing for all of us staff at
NorthStar to get to hang outwith y'all at different times
and watch you grow and see allthe stuff that you do.
So it really is incredibleworking with you and just
getting to know more about yourlives and how God's using you in
NorthStar and out, and so bothof you have had a lot going on
(03:14):
outside of NorthStar.
So tell us a little bit whatit's like to live overseas.
And then, right now, Maia isback in the US while Addie is
overseas, and so the time zonedifferences at NorthStar are
always fun.
It's such a blessing to be aglobal school and to jump on the
screen and be all over theworld at one time with each
(03:34):
other, but that can be difficultto navigate to.
So tell us a little bit aboutthe things that have been fun
about living in different places, but maybe been a little scary.
Like Addie told me, she's beenchased by monkeys.
I don't know if you want toshare a story about that, but
something that we'd love tolearn, something new about what?
(03:54):
it's like yeah, being overseasand just growing up in different
places.
Addie Becker (04:01):
Yeah, so I have really enjoyed being able to
live overseas and it'sdefinitely been a really
important part of my life story,and NorthStar has been an
incredible help by giving me theflexibility to actually be able
to live overseas and travel.
But that definitely gives makesit challenging when I'm part of
(04:24):
student council and we havemeetings that we have to
schedule and it can be hard tofind times at work.
So it's definitely been an areafor me that I've had to grow in
is being able to communicatewith people in different time
zones and try to bridge that gap.
So, yeah, I've really enjoyedbeing able to still be a part of
(04:50):
NorthStar and Student Council,because that's an opportunity
that most students don't get tohave if they are being
homeschooled, and so, yeah, yeah, one really amazing thing that
I've learned through NSA is howto creatively adapt to different
situations, as my family hastraveled throughout the year.
Maia Coyle (05:14):
One of the main reasons why I do NSA is because
I don't have the commitment fora in-person class or an
in-person school, and so myfamily travels a lot and we have
to be able to adapt in ourdifferent situations, in our
different lives, and so onething that NSA has taught me is
how to creatively adapt to adifferent schedule, and not only
(05:35):
has that gone through like myclass schedule, but also like,
for example, on student council,we're leading the Christmas
radio show right now for ourChristmas event, and it's been
really fun to make traditionsinto an online thing, like take
in-person traditions and putthem into an online like call or
(05:57):
an online challenge, and soit's been really fun being able
to learn how NSA has taught mehow to creatively adapt Um, and,
yeah, I think time zones isdefinitely an example of how
everyone at NSA has tocreatively adapt and just make
room for different people anddifferent meetings into their
(06:18):
schedule, and just theflexibility that NSA gives you
and also teaches you how to giveyourself Um.
But yeah, it's just.
It's really amazing to um seewhat NSA has taught me, as I
have a very crazy life, that umis hard to make commitments with
(06:40):
.
Stephanie Shafer (06:42):
Yeah, so you are both seniors, so I know it's
about to get extra crazy as thespring semester arrives and
you're hearing back fromcolleges, universities making
plans, making decisions,preparing, you know, for
whatever the next steps might be.
Talk to us a little bit aboutthat.
And how do you think NorthStarhas prepared you?
(07:03):
And then just your lifeexperiences overseas?
How has God prepared you,through all that, for what's
coming next?
Even though we don't know forsure what's coming right, we
think we have a plan and but,yeah, just the excitement of
that next step journey.
Maia Coyle (07:17):
Yeah, I think for me , one of the amazing things that
NSA has taught me is theimportance of a global
atmosphere.
A lot of the schools that I'veapplied to and have been really
interested in have been schoolsthat specifically have a global
atmosphere and are able toconnect on a global level, and
(07:39):
it's been really amazing to seehow NSA has set me up with
community skills, I'm able tocommunicate with different
people and the leadershipopportunities that NSA has
connected me with.
It's just to be honest.
It's provided a great resumeand a great just thing for
(08:02):
colleges to look at great justthing for colleges to look at,
and NSA really provides what youneed to get into a college and
it also provides the skills thatyou need without you even
realizing it, like with NSAbeing a school that really
provides ways for you to writegood essays and write things
(08:25):
fast and also being able tomanage your time well is really
the skills that you need forcollege and that a lot of
schools don't teach, and NSAdoes a really amazing job that
you have to teach and, as I'vetaken a lot of classes at
different colleges and communitycolleges, nsa has helped me so
much through the courses thatthey've taught and how I can
(08:48):
better use those skills into theclasses I'm taking at other
colleges.
And so NSA just sets you up forso many different things,
whether it's leadership,community skills, just writing
faster or not procrastinating.
It's just really an amazingschool that provides you how to
(09:09):
adapt to different situations.
Addie Becker (09:12):
Yeah, I completely agree with Maia that NorthStar
has really set me up for success, and so, for me, having grown
up overseas, I've just been ableto see the hardships that many
people have in their communities, and so I feel like the Lord
has been calling me to beinvolved in social
(09:33):
entrepreneurship.
So that is what I will bestudying in university, and
NorthStar has given me a lot offlexibility to be able to job
shadow and to have internshipsthat have prepared me for my
career and have just helped meto have a better understanding
(09:53):
of what I'm getting myself into.
And then also just the studentleadership has also been a
really important part of my highschool years because it's
taught me skills that I wouldn'tbe able to necessarily get if I
wasn't, if I was justhomeschooled and didn't have any
connection, and so, yeah,northstar has really set me up
(10:17):
well for success.
Stephanie Shafer (10:20):
I love to hear that about the entrepreneurship
and how cool our studentsreally are, because we have so
many NorthStar students thathave started their own
businesses and that's why theycome to NorthStar to be able to
spend time pursuing whether it'sjust a hobby or something
that's going to become a careeror already is.
So it's so incredible to seethe creative minds God has given
(10:41):
our students like you and justto see that, yeah, flourish.
So I'm so excited that Godbrought both of you here to
NorthStar and for studentcouncil, that you're here and
that you have such a desire togrow and expand and help every
student feel seen and known.
(11:04):
A little bit about what it'slike to have different roles at
NorthStar, maybe which one'sbeen your favorite so far and
why you would say you have toget involved in student council
or some kind.
You know it doesn't have to belike a vice president or
president, but it could besomething a smaller role Like
why should students?
What are the benefits ofexperiencing leadership?
Maia Coyle (11:26):
I've loved leadership at NSA and just
getting involved withspecifically volunteer positions
.
I remember in sixth gradeactually was the first time that
I was involved in the welcomecommittee, because back then
there was a middle school andelementary welcome committee,
and so I remember just seeingthe welcome committee leaders
(11:49):
and immediately wanting to dothat.
And as I've been on the welcomecommittee, I loved meeting new
students and it really providedme a way of introducing myself
to people and hearing theirstories, because at NSA so many
people have such amazing storiesand one of my favorite things
(12:10):
was just listening to people'sstory and just hearing their
testimony of how they've met Godand how they have been able to
come to NSA and just differentstories like that.
And so one of the things that Ilove so much about NSA is the
community, which is why I'vebeen on their student leadership
(12:31):
for so long, and so I think fora new student, being on the
welcome committee is an amazingfirst step.
It's really simple.
It's just meeting new peopleand reaching out to them and
just making a friend, and sowelcome committee is definitely
something that I really enjoydoing, and another way to get
(12:52):
involved is through the clubs atNSA for high schoolers.
There are so many amazing clubs,and what I love about NSA is,
if there's a place that someonewants or someone wants to be in,
nsa has a place for you, and soNSA just with the clubs,
there's so many differentopportunities for you to get
(13:13):
plugged in with other peoplethat share your interests, which
is something that I have lovedso much.
And for me, for my favoriteplace or role that I've been on
for student council hasdefinitely been president, but I
think one of the main reasonswhy I've loved being president
so much is just seeing how otherpeople are always like wanting
(13:36):
to lead, and it's been reallyfun to just be able to provide
opportunities for them to leador for them to serve the
community, and so it's beenreally fun to be able to connect
the community all together.
We have so many differentplaces, like the NorthStar
(13:56):
Navigator, which is the schoolnewspaper, and we have the clubs
and we have the welcomecommittee and just being able to
tie it all into one flourishingcommunity and be able to lead
it and just have others shinethrough it and be able to set
others up for success, as Addyhas said.
And so, yeah, just leadershipat NSA is so much fun and is
(14:21):
such a unique piece of theNorthStar culture that I would
really recommend.
And yeah, it's a great way tomeet new people.
Addie Becker (14:30):
That's really cool .
So for me, I've enjoyed all ofthe positions I've been in.
I've been a club leader twice,vice president, content creator.
One of the really cool thingswas being a club leader for the
Visual Arts Club and I felt likethat experience really gave me
a really well-rounded experienceof what student leadership is
(14:55):
like, because I got to see thewhole development of the club
from start to finish, and so Ihelped with the branding, I
collaborated with another clubleader and also with the club
advisor and even with studentcouncil, and then I was also
(15:15):
able to plan events and hostmeetings, and so I think that
that experience really gave me agood understanding of what
student leadership involves andI think that set me up well for
success as a content creator andvice president.
This year I'm vice presidentand that's been a really great
opportunity.
I've especially enjoyed beingable to like what Maia said
(15:39):
helping build others up andempowering others to use their
own giftings at NSA, and it'sbeen so cool this year that
we've been able to reallyencourage others to try
different things and to reallyexpand their realm of influence
in new ways that we haven't donein student council before.
Stephanie Shafer (16:01):
Yeah, love it Always growing and asking
questions.
And yeah, it's really cool towatch y'all and all the students
.
Okay, so, as you think aboutleadership, what is one thing
that is super difficult withleadership, or what's one
(16:22):
takeaway?
Maybe you thought, oh, I'venever experienced something like
that, but now look what God'sdoing with it.
One of you can answer thatquestion Y'all can fight doing
with it.
One of you can answer thatquestion.
Y'all can fight over it.
And one of you can answerwhat's the best thing about
leadership?
I want to be in leadershipforever because of this, so
whoever can pick which one youwant first.
Maia Coyle (16:41):
Yeah, so I think the best thing about leadership
that I've learned specifically,I've learned this from NSA is
what we've been talking aboutthe opportunity to set others up
for success and just being ableto make connections with people
.
I think one of the things I'veloved so much is being able to
(17:02):
see other students buildingother students up, and at NSA
you can see that in so manydifferent places and as we've
developed student council, we'vebeen able to help others lead.
For example, right now I thinkwe have the most clubs that
we've ever had at this school,which is really amazing because
so many people are coming to theschool and being open to voice
(17:28):
their ideas and their wants forwhat NSA can provide for them,
and so I think one of myfavorite things about leadership
is looking back and seeing allof the things that people have
been able to do and all of thethings that they've been able to
impact, like how they have madesome place a better place, and
(17:54):
so that's just one thing that Ireally love about leadership,
and I also just really loveworking with people and being
able to just hear their opinionsand their stories and learning
from others.
I think that that's somethingthat's so powerful about
leadership is you're constantlylearning and you're constantly
gaining feedback from otherpeople and, yeah, it just is so
(18:17):
powerful.
Stephanie Shafer (18:19):
That's good, and the challenges are just as
important, addie, because welearn a lot from things that are
hard too right, and we have tohave those hard times to grow.
So what do you got?
Addie Becker (18:36):
Yeah, so I think that one of the hardest parts
about being involved in studentleadership is communication, and
so, especially in an onlineschool, it can be really hard to
read what people are trying tocommunicate, and so that's often
led to misunderstandings, bothwithin student council and also
when student council tries tocommunicate with the student
body.
But it's also been present.
(18:58):
It's also presented us with agreat opportunity for growth, as
we've learned how to interactwith people who have different
opinions than ours and how toadapt.
So one of the ways that I'vehad to personally adapt is to do
more voice messages and videorecordings that help people to
(19:18):
understand what I'm trying tosay in a way that text doesn't
communicate, and so that's beenone challenge, but I think that
our student council has reallyhandled that well this year, and
people have been reallygracious and forgiving to the
student council members whenthere are misunderstandings.
Stephanie Shafer (19:44):
True and definitely true for all leaders.
I'm sure Sometimes, as a leader, I think that people understand
what's in my head.
I feel like I've explained itlike really well, oh, here's the
vision, here's the next steps,and I'm like you got this.
And then I've come to find outI didn't really explain it well
or didn't even say some of thestuff I thought I said have you
(20:07):
ever experienced that?
It's like I thought Icommunicated that but apparently
I didn't say it at all.
Yeah, so that can be rough.
So there's always lots to learn,no matter how old you are.
It's a continual learning andhumbling experience, but really
good because you do grow.
In all of the challenges andthe fun times and the
(20:29):
flourishing times.
It's all fun.
All right, as we begin to wrapup this podcast, just hearing a
little bit about y'all'sincredible experience at
NorthStar.
Each of you take either aparent or a student.
If you could give one tip to aparent or one tip to a student,
think about high school parent,high school student.
What's the most important thingthat you would want to share
(20:53):
with that parent or the studentthat you've learned during your
time in high school?
Addie Becker (21:00):
For me, one of the most important things that my
mom has done a really great jobat helping me with is to plan my
schedule and plan it in a waythat allows me to get a lot of
college credits done in highschool, and so that has actually
allowed me to be able to end upgraduating in three years at
(21:23):
university.
And NorthStar has been a reallyimportant part of that because
it's given me the flexibility totake more college credits and
it's also taught me how to planmy own schedule, which is a
really great, great life skillto learn, and NorthStar has been
a really great place, great wayfor me to develop that skill.
(21:48):
Sorry, that wasn't great.
Stephanie Shafer (21:52):
No, that's awesome, that's good advice.
And, yeah, to really spend timeworking together with your
parent, too, on schedule,brainstorming, figuring out
what's best.
That's good.
Maia Coyle (22:05):
Yeah, that's so important.
I definitely agree with that.
Yeah, that's so important.
I definitely agree with that.
I think, for studentsspecifically at NSA, I would say
my one tip would be to getinvolved.
I think one of the things thathas helped me so much through my
high school has been thecommunity that NSA has provided
for me.
I think I've met so manyamazing friends and some of my
(22:28):
best friends are still at NSAand have been through NSA and I
know that a lot of theopportunities that I've even put
on, like my collegeapplications, have been through
the NSA community and being ableto lead and so just being able
to get involved provides so muchfor you.
It provides just relationshipsthat you can have through your
(22:51):
school and just it provides waysthat you can relate to each
other.
You can reach out to aclassmate or you can reach out
to a student council member andjust being able to be open to
making a new friend and justwhether that's saying hi to a
Welcome to Maine member orwhether that's joining a call
(23:12):
for an event I think thatgetting involved is super
important at NSA and this, likeI said, this goes beyond just
making a relationship, but atNSA.
It's provided me ways that I'vebeen able to succeed in life
succeed in college and hopefullygetting in but it's just
(23:34):
provided ways for me to learnmore about schooling and NSA has
a tutoring program and it hasways that you can really succeed
in your schooling throughrelationships and being able to
get involved and see all theways that NSA can help provide
(23:56):
you and provide for you and setyou up for success really comes
down to getting involved andbeing able to really put
yourself into the community andjoining a call or two and so
throughout my high school yearsI really enjoyed being involved
in NSA and it's taught me somuch and it has really grown me
(24:19):
as a person and therelationships that I've
developed at NSA and leadershipskills have really been the
thing that has set me up forsuccess.
Stephanie Shafer (24:29):
Well, y'all both are super successful
throughout your time here atNorthStar in so many ways and,
most importantly, the love forthe Lord and how he shines
through you and how he's givingthat heart to care about other
people, so compassionate andwanting to help, and so that
really shines through, evenlistening in these few moments
(24:51):
for your hearts, and so I knowhe's got so much ahead of you as
you enter in Christmas springsemester.
Don't let it go by real fast.
Savor every moment, be presentin every moment.
Don't rush it, because you'llbe on the other side of senior
year sooner than you want to be,probably.
So just take your time, deepbreaths.
Don't rush it, because you'llbe on the other side of senior
year sooner than you want to be,probably.
So just take your time, deepbreaths, don't worry.
(25:14):
You're getting in and goingwherever he wants you to go, and
so that's super exciting towatch and just pray for you.
And, yeah, thank you, thank you, thank you so, so much for all
of your investment while here atNorthStar and just how I know
y'all have loved on teachers,loved back and, I'm sure,
encouraged them in so many ways,and how important that is of
(25:35):
just the community.
And, yeah, super thankful foryour investment, your family's
investment and how God iscontinuing to grow you too, and
thank you so much for sharing alittle bit about your experience
and what you're learning inleadership.
It's always a delight to haveyou on and here.
Yeah, and thank you so much.
(25:58):
Yeah, thank you for having us.
Thank you so much for listeningtoday.
If you have any questions forour guests or would like
information about NorthStar,please email us.
At podcast at nsaschool, welove having guests on our show
and getting to hear theirstories.
If you have anyone in mind thatyou think would be a great
(26:19):
guest to feature, please emailus and let us know.
And don't forget to subscribeso you don't miss out on
upcoming stories.
Hi, this is Stephanie Shafer and you're
listening to the NorthStarNarrative, a podcast from
NorthStar Academy.
I want to thank you for joiningus.
I hope you're encouraged,challenged and motivated by what
you learned today.
Enjoy the story.
Hey everybody, thanks so muchfor joining us.
It's another incredible episodebecause we have two NorthStar
(00:25):
students on the show today, andI'm always super, super thrilled
when we get to talk to students, especially those that are on
student council and have been atNorthStar for so long, just
living really incredible livesfor the Lord, and so I get to
welcome today Addie Becker andMaia Coyle.
Both of them have been atNorthStar for such a long time
(00:46):
and have served in so manyincredible ways, so I can't wait
for you to be able to meet them, hear from their hearts and
their experience and just findout some really cool things.
So listen in.
If you are checking outNorthStar online education,
you're going to learn somethings about NorthStar and
online education.
If you are already in NorthStar, you're going to learn some
things about NorthStar andonline education.
If you are already in NorthStar, you're going to learn some
(01:07):
ways that you can get involvedand reasons why you should get
involved in things like studentcouncil at NorthStar.
So here we go.
Thank you, ladies, so much forjoining me.
I would love for each of youjust to take a little bit of
time to introduce yourself andtell us a little bit about your
journey so far in life.
Addie Becker (01:27):
Sure, so my name is Addie.
I am a TCK living in SoutheastAsia and I've been with
NorthStar since sixth grade, soI've been here for a long time
and I've been able to beinvolved in several different
student leadership opportunitiesthat NorthStar offers.
(01:47):
I have been a club leader twice, and last year I served as
student council content creator,and then this year I'm the
student council vice president.
So that's a little bit about me.
Maia Coyle (02:01):
Yeah, so my name's Maia.
I was born in Beijing, China,and my parents ran a church
there.
A few years, when I was aboutnine, we moved to the United
States, and so when I was insixth grade, we found NorthStar
Academy when my sister was goinginto her high school years, and
through NorthStar, I was ableto meet so many amazing people
(02:25):
and really connect with thecommunity that it has, and
through it I've been a part ofthe welcome committee.
I have also been a welcomecommittee leader on student
council, along with thesecretary, and this year I am
the student council president,and so NorthStar has just been
such an amazing place for me toget involved with different
(02:47):
students and meet people allaround the world, and it's
really been a blessing.
Stephanie Shafer (02:52):
Yeah, such a blessing for all of us staff at
NorthStar to get to hang outwith y'all at different times
and watch you grow and see allthe stuff that you do.
So it really is incredibleworking with you and just
getting to know more about yourlives and how God's using you in
NorthStar and out, and so bothof you have had a lot going on
(03:14):
outside of NorthStar.
So tell us a little bit whatit's like to live overseas.
And then, right now, Maia isback in the US while Addie is
overseas, and so the time zonedifferences at NorthStar are
always fun.
It's such a blessing to be aglobal school and to jump on the
screen and be all over theworld at one time with each
(03:34):
other, but that can be difficultto navigate to.
So tell us a little bit aboutthe things that have been fun
about living in different places, but maybe been a little scary.
Like Addie told me, she's beenchased by monkeys.
I don't know if you want toshare a story about that, but
something that we'd love tolearn, something new about what?
(03:54):
it's like yeah, being overseasand just growing up in different
places.
Addie Becker (04:01):
Yeah, so I have really enjoyed being able to
live overseas and it'sdefinitely been a really
important part of my life story,and NorthStar has been an
incredible help by giving me theflexibility to actually be able
to live overseas and travel.
But that definitely gives makesit challenging when I'm part of
(04:24):
student council and we havemeetings that we have to
schedule and it can be hard tofind times at work.
So it's definitely been an areafor me that I've had to grow in
is being able to communicatewith people in different time
zones and try to bridge that gap.
So, yeah, I've really enjoyedbeing able to still be a part of
(04:50):
NorthStar and Student Council,because that's an opportunity
that most students don't get tohave if they are being
homeschooled, and so, yeah, yeah, one really amazing thing that
I've learned through NSA is howto creatively adapt to different
situations, as my family hastraveled throughout the year.
Maia Coyle (05:14):
One of the main reasons why I do NSA is because
I don't have the commitment fora in-person class or an
in-person school, and so myfamily travels a lot and we have
to be able to adapt in ourdifferent situations, in our
different lives, and so onething that NSA has taught me is
how to creatively adapt to adifferent schedule, and not only
(05:35):
has that gone through like myclass schedule, but also like,
for example, on student council,we're leading the Christmas
radio show right now for ourChristmas event, and it's been
really fun to make traditionsinto an online thing, like take
in-person traditions and putthem into an online like call or
(05:57):
an online challenge, and soit's been really fun being able
to learn how NSA has taught mehow to creatively adapt Um, and,
yeah, I think time zones isdefinitely an example of how
everyone at NSA has tocreatively adapt and just make
room for different people anddifferent meetings into their
(06:18):
schedule, and just theflexibility that NSA gives you
and also teaches you how to giveyourself Um.
But yeah, it's just.
It's really amazing to um seewhat NSA has taught me, as I
have a very crazy life, that umis hard to make commitments with
(06:40):
.
Stephanie Shafer (06:42):
Yeah, so you are both seniors, so I know it's
about to get extra crazy as thespring semester arrives and
you're hearing back fromcolleges, universities making
plans, making decisions,preparing, you know, for
whatever the next steps might be.
Talk to us a little bit aboutthat.
And how do you think NorthStarhas prepared you?
(07:03):
And then just your lifeexperiences overseas?
How has God prepared you,through all that, for what's
coming next?
Even though we don't know forsure what's coming right, we
think we have a plan and but,yeah, just the excitement of
that next step journey.
Maia Coyle (07:17):
Yeah, I think for me , one of the amazing things that
NSA has taught me is theimportance of a global
atmosphere.
A lot of the schools that I'veapplied to and have been really
interested in have been schoolsthat specifically have a global
atmosphere and are able toconnect on a global level, and
(07:39):
it's been really amazing to seehow NSA has set me up with
community skills, I'm able tocommunicate with different
people and the leadershipopportunities that NSA has
connected me with.
It's just to be honest.
It's provided a great resumeand a great just thing for
(08:02):
colleges to look at great justthing for colleges to look at,
and NSA really provides what youneed to get into a college and
it also provides the skills thatyou need without you even
realizing it, like with NSAbeing a school that really
provides ways for you to writegood essays and write things
(08:25):
fast and also being able tomanage your time well is really
the skills that you need forcollege and that a lot of
schools don't teach, and NSAdoes a really amazing job that
you have to teach and, as I'vetaken a lot of classes at
different colleges and communitycolleges, nsa has helped me so
much through the courses thatthey've taught and how I can
(08:48):
better use those skills into theclasses I'm taking at other
colleges.
And so NSA just sets you up forso many different things,
whether it's leadership,community skills, just writing
faster or not procrastinating.
It's just really an amazingschool that provides you how to
(09:09):
adapt to different situations.
Addie Becker (09:12):
Yeah, I completely agree with Maia that NorthStar
has really set me up for success, and so, for me, having grown
up overseas, I've just been ableto see the hardships that many
people have in their communities, and so I feel like the Lord
has been calling me to beinvolved in social
(09:33):
entrepreneurship.
So that is what I will bestudying in university, and
NorthStar has given me a lot offlexibility to be able to job
shadow and to have internshipsthat have prepared me for my
career and have just helped meto have a better understanding
(09:53):
of what I'm getting myself into.
And then also just the studentleadership has also been a
really important part of my highschool years because it's
taught me skills that I wouldn'tbe able to necessarily get if I
wasn't, if I was justhomeschooled and didn't have any
connection, and so, yeah,northstar has really set me up
(10:17):
well for success.
Stephanie Shafer (10:20):
I love to hear that about the entrepreneurship
and how cool our studentsreally are, because we have so
many NorthStar students thathave started their own
businesses and that's why theycome to NorthStar to be able to
spend time pursuing whether it'sjust a hobby or something
that's going to become a careeror already is.
So it's so incredible to seethe creative minds God has given
(10:41):
our students like you and justto see that, yeah, flourish.
So I'm so excited that Godbrought both of you here to
NorthStar and for studentcouncil, that you're here and
that you have such a desire togrow and expand and help every
student feel seen and known.
(11:04):
A little bit about what it'slike to have different roles at
NorthStar, maybe which one'sbeen your favorite so far and
why you would say you have toget involved in student council
or some kind.
You know it doesn't have to belike a vice president or
president, but it could besomething a smaller role Like
why should students?
What are the benefits ofexperiencing leadership?
Maia Coyle (11:26):
I've loved leadership at NSA and just
getting involved withspecifically volunteer positions
.
I remember in sixth gradeactually was the first time that
I was involved in the welcomecommittee, because back then
there was a middle school andelementary welcome committee,
and so I remember just seeingthe welcome committee leaders
(11:49):
and immediately wanting to dothat.
And as I've been on the welcomecommittee, I loved meeting new
students and it really providedme a way of introducing myself
to people and hearing theirstories, because at NSA so many
people have such amazing storiesand one of my favorite things
(12:10):
was just listening to people'sstory and just hearing their
testimony of how they've met Godand how they have been able to
come to NSA and just differentstories like that.
And so one of the things that Ilove so much about NSA is the
community, which is why I'vebeen on their student leadership
(12:31):
for so long, and so I think fora new student, being on the
welcome committee is an amazingfirst step.
It's really simple.
It's just meeting new peopleand reaching out to them and
just making a friend, and sowelcome committee is definitely
something that I really enjoydoing, and another way to get
(12:52):
involved is through the clubs atNSA for high schoolers.
There are so many amazing clubs,and what I love about NSA is,
if there's a place that someonewants or someone wants to be in,
nsa has a place for you, and soNSA just with the clubs,
there's so many differentopportunities for you to get
(13:13):
plugged in with other peoplethat share your interests, which
is something that I have lovedso much.
And for me, for my favoriteplace or role that I've been on
for student council hasdefinitely been president, but I
think one of the main reasonswhy I've loved being president
so much is just seeing how otherpeople are always like wanting
(13:36):
to lead, and it's been reallyfun to just be able to provide
opportunities for them to leador for them to serve the
community, and so it's beenreally fun to be able to connect
the community all together.
We have so many differentplaces, like the NorthStar
(13:56):
Navigator, which is the schoolnewspaper, and we have the clubs
and we have the welcomecommittee and just being able to
tie it all into one flourishingcommunity and be able to lead
it and just have others shinethrough it and be able to set
others up for success, as Addyhas said.
And so, yeah, just leadershipat NSA is so much fun and is
(14:21):
such a unique piece of theNorthStar culture that I would
really recommend.
And yeah, it's a great way tomeet new people.
Addie Becker (14:30):
That's really cool .
So for me, I've enjoyed all ofthe positions I've been in.
I've been a club leader twice,vice president, content creator.
One of the really cool thingswas being a club leader for the
Visual Arts Club and I felt likethat experience really gave me
a really well-rounded experienceof what student leadership is
(14:55):
like, because I got to see thewhole development of the club
from start to finish, and so Ihelped with the branding, I
collaborated with another clubleader and also with the club
advisor and even with studentcouncil, and then I was also
(15:15):
able to plan events and hostmeetings, and so I think that
that experience really gave me agood understanding of what
student leadership involves andI think that set me up well for
success as a content creator andvice president.
This year I'm vice presidentand that's been a really great
opportunity.
I've especially enjoyed beingable to like what Maia said
(15:39):
helping build others up andempowering others to use their
own giftings at NSA, and it'sbeen so cool this year that
we've been able to reallyencourage others to try
different things and to reallyexpand their realm of influence
in new ways that we haven't donein student council before.
Stephanie Shafer (16:01):
Yeah, love it Always growing and asking
questions.
And yeah, it's really cool towatch y'all and all the students
.
Okay, so, as you think aboutleadership, what is one thing
that is super difficult withleadership, or what's one
(16:22):
takeaway?
Maybe you thought, oh, I'venever experienced something like
that, but now look what God'sdoing with it.
One of you can answer thatquestion Y'all can fight doing
with it.
One of you can answer thatquestion.
Y'all can fight over it.
And one of you can answerwhat's the best thing about
leadership?
I want to be in leadershipforever because of this, so
whoever can pick which one youwant first.
Maia Coyle (16:41):
Yeah, so I think the best thing about leadership
that I've learned specifically,I've learned this from NSA is
what we've been talking aboutthe opportunity to set others up
for success and just being ableto make connections with people
.
I think one of the things I'veloved so much is being able to
(17:02):
see other students buildingother students up, and at NSA
you can see that in so manydifferent places and as we've
developed student council, we'vebeen able to help others lead.
For example, right now I thinkwe have the most clubs that
we've ever had at this school,which is really amazing because
so many people are coming to theschool and being open to voice
(17:28):
their ideas and their wants forwhat NSA can provide for them,
and so I think one of myfavorite things about leadership
is looking back and seeing allof the things that people have
been able to do and all of thethings that they've been able to
impact, like how they have madesome place a better place, and
(17:54):
so that's just one thing that Ireally love about leadership,
and I also just really loveworking with people and being
able to just hear their opinionsand their stories and learning
from others.
I think that that's somethingthat's so powerful about
leadership is you're constantlylearning and you're constantly
gaining feedback from otherpeople and, yeah, it just is so
(18:17):
powerful.
Stephanie Shafer (18:19):
That's good, and the challenges are just as
important, addie, because welearn a lot from things that are
hard too right, and we have tohave those hard times to grow.
So what do you got?
Addie Becker (18:36):
Yeah, so I think that one of the hardest parts
about being involved in studentleadership is communication, and
so, especially in an onlineschool, it can be really hard to
read what people are trying tocommunicate, and so that's often
led to misunderstandings, bothwithin student council and also
when student council tries tocommunicate with the student
body.
But it's also been present.
(18:58):
It's also presented us with agreat opportunity for growth, as
we've learned how to interactwith people who have different
opinions than ours and how toadapt.
So one of the ways that I'vehad to personally adapt is to do
more voice messages and videorecordings that help people to
(19:18):
understand what I'm trying tosay in a way that text doesn't
communicate, and so that's beenone challenge, but I think that
our student council has reallyhandled that well this year, and
people have been reallygracious and forgiving to the
student council members whenthere are misunderstandings.
Stephanie Shafer (19:44):
True and definitely true for all leaders.
I'm sure Sometimes, as a leader, I think that people understand
what's in my head.
I feel like I've explained itlike really well, oh, here's the
vision, here's the next steps,and I'm like you got this.
And then I've come to find outI didn't really explain it well
or didn't even say some of thestuff I thought I said have you
(20:07):
ever experienced that?
It's like I thought Icommunicated that but apparently
I didn't say it at all.
Yeah, so that can be rough.
So there's always lots to learn,no matter how old you are.
It's a continual learning andhumbling experience, but really
good because you do grow.
In all of the challenges andthe fun times and the
(20:29):
flourishing times.
It's all fun.
All right, as we begin to wrapup this podcast, just hearing a
little bit about y'all'sincredible experience at
NorthStar.
Each of you take either aparent or a student.
If you could give one tip to aparent or one tip to a student,
think about high school parent,high school student.
What's the most important thingthat you would want to share
(20:53):
with that parent or the studentthat you've learned during your
time in high school?
Addie Becker (21:00):
For me, one of the most important things that my
mom has done a really great jobat helping me with is to plan my
schedule and plan it in a waythat allows me to get a lot of
college credits done in highschool, and so that has actually
allowed me to be able to end upgraduating in three years at
(21:23):
university.
And NorthStar has been a reallyimportant part of that because
it's given me the flexibility totake more college credits and
it's also taught me how to planmy own schedule, which is a
really great, great life skillto learn, and NorthStar has been
a really great place, great wayfor me to develop that skill.
(21:48):
Sorry, that wasn't great.
Stephanie Shafer (21:52):
No, that's awesome, that's good advice.
And, yeah, to really spend timeworking together with your
parent, too, on schedule,brainstorming, figuring out
what's best.
That's good.
Maia Coyle (22:05):
Yeah, that's so important.
I definitely agree with that.
Yeah, that's so important.
I definitely agree with that.
I think, for studentsspecifically at NSA, I would say
my one tip would be to getinvolved.
I think one of the things thathas helped me so much through my
high school has been thecommunity that NSA has provided
for me.
I think I've met so manyamazing friends and some of my
(22:28):
best friends are still at NSAand have been through NSA and I
know that a lot of theopportunities that I've even put
on, like my collegeapplications, have been through
the NSA community and being ableto lead and so just being able
to get involved provides so muchfor you.
It provides just relationshipsthat you can have through your
(22:51):
school and just it provides waysthat you can relate to each
other.
You can reach out to aclassmate or you can reach out
to a student council member andjust being able to be open to
making a new friend and justwhether that's saying hi to a
Welcome to Maine member orwhether that's joining a call
(23:12):
for an event I think thatgetting involved is super
important at NSA and this, likeI said, this goes beyond just
making a relationship, but atNSA.
It's provided me ways that I'vebeen able to succeed in life
succeed in college and hopefullygetting in but it's just
(23:34):
provided ways for me to learnmore about schooling and NSA has
a tutoring program and it hasways that you can really succeed
in your schooling throughrelationships and being able to
get involved and see all theways that NSA can help provide
(23:56):
you and provide for you and setyou up for success really comes
down to getting involved andbeing able to really put
yourself into the community andjoining a call or two and so
throughout my high school yearsI really enjoyed being involved
in NSA and it's taught me somuch and it has really grown me
(24:19):
as a person and therelationships that I've
developed at NSA and leadershipskills have really been the
thing that has set me up forsuccess.
Stephanie Shafer (24:29):
Well, y'all both are super successful
throughout your time here atNorthStar in so many ways and,
most importantly, the love forthe Lord and how he shines
through you and how he's givingthat heart to care about other
people, so compassionate andwanting to help, and so that
really shines through, evenlistening in these few moments
(24:51):
for your hearts, and so I knowhe's got so much ahead of you as
you enter in Christmas springsemester.
Don't let it go by real fast.
Savor every moment, be presentin every moment.
Don't rush it, because you'llbe on the other side of senior
year sooner than you want to be,probably.
So just take your time, deepbreaths.
Don't rush it, because you'llbe on the other side of senior
year sooner than you want to be,probably.
So just take your time, deepbreaths, don't worry.
(25:14):
You're getting in and goingwherever he wants you to go, and
so that's super exciting towatch and just pray for you.
And, yeah, thank you, thank you, thank you so, so much for all
of your investment while here atNorthStar and just how I know
y'all have loved on teachers,loved back and, I'm sure,
encouraged them in so many ways,and how important that is of
(25:35):
just the community.
And, yeah, super thankful foryour investment, your family's
investment and how God iscontinuing to grow you too, and
thank you so much for sharing alittle bit about your experience
and what you're learning inleadership.
It's always a delight to haveyou on and here.
Yeah, and thank you so much.
(25:58):
Yeah, thank you for having us.
Thank you so much for listeningtoday.
If you have any questions forour guests or would like
information about NorthStar,please email us.
At podcast at nsaschool, welove having guests on our show
and getting to hear theirstories.
If you have anyone in mind thatyou think would be a great
(26:19):
guest to feature, please emailus and let us know.
And don't forget to subscribeso you don't miss out on
upcoming stories.
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