January 7, 2025 • 24 mins
Zoe and Rachel, club coordinators at NorthStar Academy, share their experiences of building community within an online educational environment. They emphasize the importance of connection, leadership, and fostering a sense of belonging through diverse clubs, illustrating how these initiatives create meaningful relationships among students.
• Discussion on their personal experiences at NorthStar
• Importance of online community and global connections
• Overview of club coordinators' responsibilities
• Types of clubs and their impact on student life
• Insights into leadership and teamwork in coordination roles
• The significance of fostering a sense of belonging
• Encouragement for students to reach out and join communities
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hi, this is Stephanie Schaefer and you're listening
to the North Star Narrative, apodcast from North Star 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, welcome to thisweek's episode.
I'm so excited to continue toget to speak with our North Star
(00:25):
students, so we have anotherepisode with two of our
incredible students that aregoing to be talking about their
experience this year as clubcoordinators.
So both Zoe Barbier and RachelGordy are club coordinators for
North Star this year and theyhave agreed to come on and tell
about their experience at NorthStar.
They've both been here forquite a few years and one of
(00:47):
them is even ready to graduatereally soon, rachel and so we're
excited just to hear abouttheir experience and what God is
doing across our community fromtheir perspective.
So thanks, ladies, so much forjoining me today.
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah, it's good to be here.
It's so fun day.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Thank you for having us.
Yeah, it's good to be here.
It's so fun.
Yeah, because it's Rachel'ssecond time, so she is not new
to the podcast, but we welcomeZoe for the first time coming on
and sharing a little bit withus today.
All right, ladies, so just soeveryone can get to know you a
little bit more, tell us howlong you've been at Northstar,
what year you're in now andmaybe one of your favorite
things about Northstar community, what year you're in now and
maybe one of your favoritethings about Northstar community
(01:27):
.
Especially for those that don'tunderstand, how can you
possibly have a community online?
Who wants to go first?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I can go.
So I'm Rachel.
I've been at Northstar, forthis is my fifth year.
Yeah, so this is my fifth yearat North Star.
I am a senior, so I'll begraduating in June.
I'm really excited.
That's one of the things I loveabout North Star community
(01:56):
actually is we have a in-persongraduation where we all meet up.
So I'm really excited to dothat.
And then I also love howthere's always someone at
Northstar who's happy to helpyou with something or talk
through something with you orsupport you.
(02:17):
You know you can messagesomebody anytime or get them on
a live call, and it's reallycool.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Yeah, I really love that too and I can't wait to see
you.
It'll be here, before you knowit, in June, our next graduation
.
It's always a highlight for ourstaff and students and parents,
so super excited with you,rachel.
All right, zoe, tell us alittle bit about you.
You're not quite a senior yet,but you're heading that way yes,
uh, so hey everyone, I'm zoe.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
I am 17 years old, I've been this is my third year
at north star uh, I'm a junior,so I'm graduating 2026 and, yeah
, one of my favorite thingsabout north star community is,
well, first of all, the teachersand how they are just always
wanting help and willing to helpand like go to the furthest
(03:09):
lengths they can go to help,whether that's by message, by
calls, whatever it is eachstudent needs.
And then also the students Ithink are highlights, because it
really makes marstar be theplace that it is just so many
incredible people who you canshoot a message to and just get
start talking, and all of themare incredibly nice, fun to talk
(03:31):
to.
And, yeah, it's just, theatmosphere at Northstar is one
that I didn't expect to find atan online school, but I am
really happy that I did.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Yeah, it's so fun, and one of my favorite things
about the community is thatusually, whenever you're on a
call with multiple people,you've got multiple countries
represented, and we do today aswell.
So Rachel and I are in theStates, but Zoe, tell us where
you are.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yes, I'm in Argentina , I was born and raised here and
, yeah, still doing her today.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
So, so fun.
One out of three is outside ofthe US, and so I know y'all have
gotten to meet lots of studentsin all kinds of countries.
What's one of your favoritethings about that?
About being a global community?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
I think it's really cool that I'm learning to relate
to things that go on in thenews and that kind of thing.
It's not just something that'sfar away and doesn't affect me.
I'm like, oh, something'shappening in this country.
I know so-and-so who livesthere and you know, I'm getting
I don't know.
(04:40):
I just it's so much easier tocare about the things that are
going on.
When you know people who livethere.
It feels real.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yeah, that's huge, rachel.
I'm so excited for you and manystudents that get to experience
.
Yeah, just different view inthe world through different
people's eyes and getting to seethings.
And then when we do hear aboutsomething, you're like you know,
because unfortunately we hearabout things like earthquakes,
you know different storms orthings happening, wars, things
(05:09):
happening in other countries,and I know, rachel, zoe, like
we're like oh, who's in thatcountry?
We know so-and-so how do wecheck on them?
Yeah, have you had anexperience like that, zoe, with
even people in the us?
Or what's your?
What's your favorite thingabout being a global community?
Speaker 3 (05:30):
oh yeah, like rachel mentioned, I think it makes
everything that's going onoutside, where I'm at, a lot
more real, because I I knowsomeone from there, so it kind
of makes it a more like vividexperience in a sense, where I
(05:51):
can really know what's going onbetter.
But also I really love I waswhen I first came to north.
Third, like when I firststarted here I thought that it
was just mainly like people inthe us so I wouldn't really
relate to just having a lot ofinternational students.
But I've come to find out thatcouldn't be further from the
truth and there's so manyinternational students here and
what I love about that is thatsometimes there are certain
things that, like people in theUS can't necessarily relate to
(06:14):
about being at differentcountries, and especially if
they are like not um countries,like maybe that are struggling
in some ways.
So I really love just havingpeople to talk to about that
sort of stuff and who reallyunderstand what I'm going
through and, yeah, kind of likemore of the difficulties that
can happen because from livingin another country yeah, it's so
(06:38):
good.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Um, yeah, the experiences we get to learn from
each other, and I love itbecause sometimes we can get so
comfortable or used to beinglike in our little area or
corner of the world that wedon't think about and we don't
pray for or care for.
You know people in other partsof the countries and so at North
(07:00):
Star you really have to tryhard not to find out about other
places in the world right LikeHyde to not meet students from
other places around the world.
So I love it in the courses.
You know teachers pulling outthings, learning about different
parts of the world.
So one of the main reasonswe're here is to talk about
clubs.
So I want to hear yourperspective as a club
(07:21):
coordinator.
What is it like being a clubcoordinator?
Why are you doing it, what isbehind the scenes, and then also
tell us about our clubs, whattype of clubs, who's involved in
clubs and just the overallcommunity that is built through
clubs.
So y'all can just take turnssharing your experience and
(07:42):
talking about some of thoseareas.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
So basically, as club coordinators, what we do is
manage the starting process ofclubs, so how to begin a club,
how to open it and then workwith the leaders to check in on
them, help them in whatever theyneed help with and, yeah, help
make clubs work as best aspossible.
(08:07):
We have several clubs as bestas possible.
We have several clubs.
We have currently nine openclubs and they vary from like.
There are different types ofclubs for different people with
different interests.
So we have a creative writingclub, a visual arts club, a book
club, a sports and fitness club, a music club, chess club,
missions club and then Bibleclub and the culinary arts club.
(08:30):
So those are the clubs that wehave open right now and I really
, as a club coordinator, Ireally love watching how people
kind of get to share theirpassions through club, because
it sometimes can be hard in anonline school to find people who
with the same interests and youwho like doing the same thing,
(08:50):
the same activities.
So through clubs, it's reallyamazing how people can relate
and talk to one another andshare their passion and help
each other out.
I've loved just watching thecommunity that forms between
clubs.
It can really be a really tightone where just everyone cares
for each other and is helpingeach other out.
(09:11):
Yeah, well, I wanted to be aclub coordinator because I
really wanted to help studentsfind places where they felt like
they belonged at NSA.
So sometimes it can be I likespeak to my personal experience
a little intimidating at firstwhen you first join.
There's so many things to dothat you don't really know where
to begin.
Intimidating at first when youfirst joined just so many things
to do that you don't reallyknow where to begin.
(09:32):
So I wanted to help createplaces through clubs where
people can interact with peoplethat are have similar interests
so they could, yeah, find placeswhere they could feel like they
belong with people that justlike similar things with them.
So, yeah, I really lovewatching clubs grow over this
past semester.
Rachel, anything to add to that?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yeah, I think something that stood out to me
about what you said, zoe, washow everyone can find a
community that shares theirinterests.
And I think that's my favoritething about clubs at Northstar
is, you know, sometimes you havesomething that you're
interested in and you think,like I'm the only one, nobody
(10:15):
else cares about this.
But then you know, I've seensome posts in the book club or
the visual arts club or whateverthe club is, and someone's like
, oh my goodness, yes, I lovethis book or I love this type of
art, and it's just so funwatching people get to meet
(10:38):
others who share their interestsand then they get to, you know,
not feel alone in theirinterests, and they get to learn
from each other and grow, andit's just so fun.
I feel like I never imaginedthat North Star would have so
many clubs and that the clubswould be so active I guess would
be the word, because I meanthey're having competitions and
(11:03):
live calls and it's just, it'sreally cool.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
That's so cool as I hear you talk.
Both of you you really arenetworkers and networking is so
fun and an incredible skill tocarry on with you because you're
putting people together withthe same interests and they're
getting to know one another andthen learning from one another
and making lifelong friendships.
And you know who knows howthat's going to carry on between
(11:29):
people that are in clubs forthe rest of their lives when
they get you know who knows howthat's going to carry on between
people that are in clubs forthe rest of their lives when
they get you know out in theworld in college, encouraging
one another and then introducingpeople, do you see yourselves
as networkers?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
I haven't really thought about it like that
before, but I definitely havenoticed that the role of a club
coordinator is a lot ofconnecting people and helping
people figure out how to do whatthey want to do, you know, with
starting a club or whatever.
Um, so yeah, I haven't reallythought about that before, but I
(12:08):
think you're right.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Yeah, I love it.
It's so much fun getting toknow people.
Like the podcast to me has beenreally cool in a type of
networking, getting to hearpeople's stories, what they're
interested in, what they'redoing, and then I might find, oh
did you know this other person?
Let me hook you up with themand have a conversation and just
see what comes of that, howy'all can partner together, and
(12:29):
just see what you know comes ofthat, how y'all can partner
together.
So I love that y'all are bothseeing the fruit of that and the
fun in that and just enjoyingit and providing so many really
cool avenues for people toflourish and get to know people
and then, you know, pursue theirpassions.
So people that aren't involvedin North Star, that might be
listening or haven't done onlineschool, where do you meet?
(12:51):
What does it look like?
Like?
Give us a visual.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
So clubs are in teams , so all clubs are separate.
These are all high school clubsthat we talked about.
There are a few elementary andmiddle school clubs that are in
the general, like teams formiddle school and elementary
school, but all high schoolclubs have their own team, so
(13:15):
with separate channels.
So, for example, thinking aboutthe visual arts club, they have
their general channel and theyhave different channels for
different interests, likedifferent types of arts, like
painting, drawing, mixed media,photography, like I'm thinking
how there was a student, acouple students were really
interested in legos, so in lego.
(13:37):
So they asked, can we have alego channel?
And they made a lego channel.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
So yeah, basically, different channels for different
types of interest and yeah,rachel, anything you want to add
to that yeah, and then there'salso clubs that function a
little bit differently, like thechess club or the bible club,
where, um, the chess club has,like, they use a website where
(14:06):
you can play chess online, andso they use the club to
coordinate how they're gonna usethe website to play chess, and
all of this is monitored by astaff member, um, but the club
allows them to get together sothat they can play chess with
people that they know, and for awhile they had a tournament
(14:28):
running where they were.
You know they would play chessand then come back to the club
and be like, oh good game, guys,and that kind of thing, and so
that's really fun, um, and then,like, the bible club has a
channel for apologeticsdiscussions, which I think is
really cool, because, you, itcan be hard to discuss those
(14:50):
things in an environment thatfeels safe, but the Bible Club
is working really hard to havethat environment so things can
be discussed without gettingcrazy and heated.
So, yeah, just, different clubshave different ways that
they're set up, but the purposeof all of them is to bring
(15:12):
people together and allow themto discuss things and learn from
each other.
Clubs also have about once amonth sometimes more, sometimes
less a live call, so you gettogether.
I mean, none of this isrequired if you're in a club,
but if you would like to join alive call, they also have those,
(15:32):
which is really fun to you knowplay games together and discuss
things face to face.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
So I love it.
And to have all these clubs atNorthstar it takes a lot of work
and we need leaders like youand Zoe Rachel.
And so what have you learnedabout leading people?
Leadership skills that areneeded.
Where have you seen some growthin your own lives?
Speaker 2 (15:59):
I think one thing for me is it's a different role.
I was a club leader in the past, as was Zoe, and leading the
club.
You're wanting to, you'releading people, but it's not the
same as a club coordinator.
We're overseeing a group ofpeople and we're trying to
(16:21):
encourage them to do the thingsthat they need to do to get a
club ready or keep up with theclub or whatever.
But you also don't want to be adictator, because I mean, it is
their club and they get to doit the way they want to do it.
So I think that has beensomething that I've been
(17:08):
learning is like the balancebetween trying to encourage
people to move forward and growthemselves, while also you know
really well, and trying to helpothers grow without making them
think you hate them or that kindof thing.
So I don't know, it's just beendifferent, zoe.
What would you?
Would you agree with that?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
yes, definitely.
I think one of the main thingsthat, once we started working
with clubs with Rachel during,like June, we were planning for
them, we talked about how tomanage this balance between when
talking with club leaders, tomake sure they're doing the
things that they need to, butalso not being too overbearing
(17:41):
in the sense that just so thatclubs didn't feel like being a
club leader didn't feel like aresponsibility that was took too
much work, but something thatthey wanted to.
So that's a balance that's beena little hard sometimes to
manage because, again, you don'twant to seem like rude or that
you're just telling them do thisthing, you have to do this
thing, you have to do this thing.
(18:02):
No, so I think I have to workon that.
I've had to work on that a lotand also, I'd say that having
the mindset of servantleadership, so leading in the
way that Jesus led, so not being, like Rachel said, a dictator
that's just telling people whatto do and not caring for them,
but truly making sure thatyou're encouraging them and
(18:25):
helping them whatever you needto and making yourself available
and, yeah, also to make thatpossible.
I feel like I've had.
Something we've had to keep inmind is to try and make
ourselves seem like, remindschool leaders that we are also
(18:45):
just students, like we're notsome mighty people who doesn't
relate to what they're goingthrough.
We're just students who knowwhat it's like to have the
burden of school and that youcan fall behind.
So kind of make yourself seemlike people who relate to them
and who they can go to if theyare struggling with something.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I love that Such incredible insight from both of
you about leadership and whatyou're learning, caring and
communicating and yeah, I'm justlike you, relational so I love
that so much and there's so muchmore for us to learn as leaders
, right, no matter what rolewe're in, how old we are.
(19:26):
So I'm excited for how you'regoing to be able to carry what
you're learning into the futureand all God has for you.
So thank you so much for justpressing in.
I know leadership can beexciting and fun, but it can
also be tough and lots of hardwork.
So I just thank you both so somuch for what you're putting in,
(19:47):
what you're doing and how youjust persevere each day.
One last question what has itbeen like just working with each
other?
Have you been able to build arelationship and leadership?
What's it been like to likeco-lead, Because sometimes
(20:08):
there's hard stuff with that,but there's great things
building friendships and justlearning from one another.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I actually almost mentioned that when we were
talking about, like, what we'velearned in our roles.
I feel like Zoe has helped melearn and hopefully I've helped
her learn as well, because it'sso nice to have you know when
you're thinking, am I being tooharsh here?
You can say, hey, zoe, can youread this for me?
(20:38):
What do you think?
And so it's really nice to haveeach other to you know, know,
sound ideas off of and tweakwording so that you know,
especially in an online school,we want to make sure the message
sounds the way we want it tosound.
It doesn't sound mean oranything like that.
(20:59):
Um, I also think that you knowwe have different things we're
good at, and so that makes us abetter team to have each other.
Yeah, and Zoe and I have becomesuch good friends.
I'm so thankful that we got tomeet through this, because it's
(21:20):
been such a blessing to get toknow her.
I would not want to do thisrole by myself at all.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
That's so good.
I've been able to say thatthrough leadership about many
people too.
That's exciting, Zoe.
What about you?
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Yeah, I think the same thing.
It's been amazing having Rachelto work with.
I originally thought I wasgoing to be doing this job by
myself, which I was a little sadabout because I didn't want to
be the only one.
I kind of was looking forwardto that aspect of connecting
with people through studentcouncil.
So I was really excited when Ifound out that I was going to be
(22:01):
working with Rachel and, yeah,she has also helped me learn a
lot about a lot about howcommunication and boundaries and
how to talk to people best.
It's yeah, she mentioned it'sgreat having someone to go with.
Do you think this sounds to me?
Do you think this is fine?
Uh, what do you think aboutthis?
(22:22):
Just having another opinion isalways great and I have enjoyed
working with her so much.
And it's also great becausesometimes, where I'm a little
more busy some week or she's alittle more busy another week,
so we can kind of delegate a bitof work, be like, hey, can you
take care of this for now, I cando a little thing later.
So it's great having someoneelse to turn to.
(22:44):
And, yeah, we've become reallygood friends and I have really
enjoyed getting to know herbecause, yeah, I really love
going to her point of view.
So, yeah, it's been awesomegetting to work with her.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
That's so good.
I have a huge smile on my facejust hearing about the other
relationships that you've beenable to build with each other
and then among so many otherstudents a passion, a hobby,
something you're pursuing, andyou don't see that.
Or if you just have questionsabout clubs, please, please, zoe
(23:27):
and Rachel, I know, would loveto hear from you and talk with
you.
So if you're a parent,encourage your student to do
that.
If you're a student, just reachout.
Or maybe you just want to findout about other things going on
at North Star.
You're a little hesitant, alittle nervous.
Zoe and Rachel would be perfectpeople.
They love students and love.
(23:51):
I know you can hear theirhearts just caring for our
community.
So some great girls to reachout to, along with all the other
students that we've had on thepodcast.
Northstar is so blessed and Itry to say that every time
because I really see it andreally believe it with
incredible students that arelearning to be leaders and
leading right here and are sopassionate, and so I just thank
God so much for both of you andthe hard work you're doing, the
(24:14):
good work, the beautiful workand know that God's going to
keep continuing to do that.
So thanks for coming on todayand sharing with me.
It really means a lot.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Thank you so much for having us.
Yeah, it was amazing to getthis opportunity to be here.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Thank you so much for listening today.
If you have any questions forour guest 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
guest to feature, please emailus and let us know.
And don't forget to subscribeso you don't miss out on
(24:52):
upcoming stories.
Hi, this is Stephanie Schaefer and you're listening
to the North Star Narrative, apodcast from North Star 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, welcome to thisweek's episode.
I'm so excited to continue toget to speak with our North Star
(00:25):
students, so we have anotherepisode with two of our
incredible students that aregoing to be talking about their
experience this year as clubcoordinators.
So both Zoe Barbier and RachelGordy are club coordinators for
North Star this year and theyhave agreed to come on and tell
about their experience at NorthStar.
They've both been here forquite a few years and one of
(00:47):
them is even ready to graduatereally soon, rachel and so we're
excited just to hear abouttheir experience and what God is
doing across our community fromtheir perspective.
So thanks, ladies, so much forjoining me today.
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Yeah, it's good to be here.
It's so fun day.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Thank you for having us.
Yeah, it's good to be here.
It's so fun.
Yeah, because it's Rachel'ssecond time, so she is not new
to the podcast, but we welcomeZoe for the first time coming on
and sharing a little bit withus today.
All right, ladies, so just soeveryone can get to know you a
little bit more, tell us howlong you've been at Northstar,
what year you're in now andmaybe one of your favorite
things about Northstar community, what year you're in now and
maybe one of your favoritethings about Northstar community
(01:27):
.
Especially for those that don'tunderstand, how can you
possibly have a community online?
Who wants to go first?
Speaker 2 (01:35):
I can go.
So I'm Rachel.
I've been at Northstar, forthis is my fifth year.
Yeah, so this is my fifth yearat North Star.
I am a senior, so I'll begraduating in June.
I'm really excited.
That's one of the things I loveabout North Star community
(01:56):
actually is we have a in-persongraduation where we all meet up.
So I'm really excited to dothat.
And then I also love howthere's always someone at
Northstar who's happy to helpyou with something or talk
through something with you orsupport you.
(02:17):
You know you can messagesomebody anytime or get them on
a live call, and it's reallycool.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Yeah, I really love that too and I can't wait to see
you.
It'll be here, before you knowit, in June, our next graduation
.
It's always a highlight for ourstaff and students and parents,
so super excited with you,rachel.
All right, zoe, tell us alittle bit about you.
You're not quite a senior yet,but you're heading that way yes,
uh, so hey everyone, I'm zoe.
Speaker 3 (02:45):
I am 17 years old, I've been this is my third year
at north star uh, I'm a junior,so I'm graduating 2026 and, yeah
, one of my favorite thingsabout north star community is,
well, first of all, the teachersand how they are just always
wanting help and willing to helpand like go to the furthest
(03:09):
lengths they can go to help,whether that's by message, by
calls, whatever it is eachstudent needs.
And then also the students Ithink are highlights, because it
really makes marstar be theplace that it is just so many
incredible people who you canshoot a message to and just get
start talking, and all of themare incredibly nice, fun to talk
(03:31):
to.
And, yeah, it's just, theatmosphere at Northstar is one
that I didn't expect to find atan online school, but I am
really happy that I did.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Yeah, it's so fun, and one of my favorite things
about the community is thatusually, whenever you're on a
call with multiple people,you've got multiple countries
represented, and we do today aswell.
So Rachel and I are in theStates, but Zoe, tell us where
you are.
Speaker 3 (03:58):
Yes, I'm in Argentina , I was born and raised here and
, yeah, still doing her today.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
So, so fun.
One out of three is outside ofthe US, and so I know y'all have
gotten to meet lots of studentsin all kinds of countries.
What's one of your favoritethings about that?
About being a global community?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
I think it's really cool that I'm learning to relate
to things that go on in thenews and that kind of thing.
It's not just something that'sfar away and doesn't affect me.
I'm like, oh, something'shappening in this country.
I know so-and-so who livesthere and you know, I'm getting
I don't know.
(04:40):
I just it's so much easier tocare about the things that are
going on.
When you know people who livethere.
It feels real.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
Yeah, that's huge, rachel.
I'm so excited for you and manystudents that get to experience
.
Yeah, just different view inthe world through different
people's eyes and getting to seethings.
And then when we do hear aboutsomething, you're like you know,
because unfortunately we hearabout things like earthquakes,
you know different storms orthings happening, wars, things
(05:09):
happening in other countries,and I know, rachel, zoe, like
we're like oh, who's in thatcountry?
We know so-and-so how do wecheck on them?
Yeah, have you had anexperience like that, zoe, with
even people in the us?
Or what's your?
What's your favorite thingabout being a global community?
Speaker 3 (05:30):
oh yeah, like rachel mentioned, I think it makes
everything that's going onoutside, where I'm at, a lot
more real, because I I knowsomeone from there, so it kind
of makes it a more like vividexperience in a sense, where I
(05:51):
can really know what's going onbetter.
But also I really love I waswhen I first came to north.
Third, like when I firststarted here I thought that it
was just mainly like people inthe us so I wouldn't really
relate to just having a lot ofinternational students.
But I've come to find out thatcouldn't be further from the
truth and there's so manyinternational students here and
what I love about that is thatsometimes there are certain
things that, like people in theUS can't necessarily relate to
(06:14):
about being at differentcountries, and especially if
they are like not um countries,like maybe that are struggling
in some ways.
So I really love just havingpeople to talk to about that
sort of stuff and who reallyunderstand what I'm going
through and, yeah, kind of likemore of the difficulties that
can happen because from livingin another country yeah, it's so
(06:38):
good.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Um, yeah, the experiences we get to learn from
each other, and I love itbecause sometimes we can get so
comfortable or used to beinglike in our little area or
corner of the world that wedon't think about and we don't
pray for or care for.
You know people in other partsof the countries and so at North
(07:00):
Star you really have to tryhard not to find out about other
places in the world right LikeHyde to not meet students from
other places around the world.
So I love it in the courses.
You know teachers pulling outthings, learning about different
parts of the world.
So one of the main reasonswe're here is to talk about
clubs.
So I want to hear yourperspective as a club
(07:21):
coordinator.
What is it like being a clubcoordinator?
Why are you doing it, what isbehind the scenes, and then also
tell us about our clubs, whattype of clubs, who's involved in
clubs and just the overallcommunity that is built through
clubs.
So y'all can just take turnssharing your experience and
(07:42):
talking about some of thoseareas.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
So basically, as club coordinators, what we do is
manage the starting process ofclubs, so how to begin a club,
how to open it and then workwith the leaders to check in on
them, help them in whatever theyneed help with and, yeah, help
make clubs work as best aspossible.
(08:07):
We have several clubs as bestas possible.
We have several clubs.
We have currently nine openclubs and they vary from like.
There are different types ofclubs for different people with
different interests.
So we have a creative writingclub, a visual arts club, a book
club, a sports and fitness club, a music club, chess club,
missions club and then Bibleclub and the culinary arts club.
(08:30):
So those are the clubs that wehave open right now and I really
, as a club coordinator, Ireally love watching how people
kind of get to share theirpassions through club, because
it sometimes can be hard in anonline school to find people who
with the same interests and youwho like doing the same thing,
(08:50):
the same activities.
So through clubs, it's reallyamazing how people can relate
and talk to one another andshare their passion and help
each other out.
I've loved just watching thecommunity that forms between
clubs.
It can really be a really tightone where just everyone cares
for each other and is helpingeach other out.
(09:11):
Yeah, well, I wanted to be aclub coordinator because I
really wanted to help studentsfind places where they felt like
they belonged at NSA.
So sometimes it can be I likespeak to my personal experience
a little intimidating at firstwhen you first join.
There's so many things to dothat you don't really know where
to begin.
Intimidating at first when youfirst joined just so many things
to do that you don't reallyknow where to begin.
(09:32):
So I wanted to help createplaces through clubs where
people can interact with peoplethat are have similar interests
so they could, yeah, find placeswhere they could feel like they
belong with people that justlike similar things with them.
So, yeah, I really lovewatching clubs grow over this
past semester.
Rachel, anything to add to that?
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yeah, I think something that stood out to me
about what you said, zoe, washow everyone can find a
community that shares theirinterests.
And I think that's my favoritething about clubs at Northstar
is, you know, sometimes you havesomething that you're
interested in and you think,like I'm the only one, nobody
(10:15):
else cares about this.
But then you know, I've seensome posts in the book club or
the visual arts club or whateverthe club is, and someone's like
, oh my goodness, yes, I lovethis book or I love this type of
art, and it's just so funwatching people get to meet
(10:38):
others who share their interestsand then they get to, you know,
not feel alone in theirinterests, and they get to learn
from each other and grow, andit's just so fun.
I feel like I never imaginedthat North Star would have so
many clubs and that the clubswould be so active I guess would
be the word, because I meanthey're having competitions and
(11:03):
live calls and it's just, it'sreally cool.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
That's so cool as I hear you talk.
Both of you you really arenetworkers and networking is so
fun and an incredible skill tocarry on with you because you're
putting people together withthe same interests and they're
getting to know one another andthen learning from one another
and making lifelong friendships.
And you know who knows howthat's going to carry on between
(11:29):
people that are in clubs forthe rest of their lives when
they get you know who knows howthat's going to carry on between
people that are in clubs forthe rest of their lives when
they get you know out in theworld in college, encouraging
one another and then introducingpeople, do you see yourselves
as networkers?
Speaker 2 (11:44):
I haven't really thought about it like that
before, but I definitely havenoticed that the role of a club
coordinator is a lot ofconnecting people and helping
people figure out how to do whatthey want to do, you know, with
starting a club or whatever.
Um, so yeah, I haven't reallythought about that before, but I
(12:08):
think you're right.
Speaker 1 (12:09):
Yeah, I love it.
It's so much fun getting toknow people.
Like the podcast to me has beenreally cool in a type of
networking, getting to hearpeople's stories, what they're
interested in, what they'redoing, and then I might find, oh
did you know this other person?
Let me hook you up with themand have a conversation and just
see what comes of that, howy'all can partner together, and
(12:29):
just see what you know comes ofthat, how y'all can partner
together.
So I love that y'all are bothseeing the fruit of that and the
fun in that and just enjoyingit and providing so many really
cool avenues for people toflourish and get to know people
and then, you know, pursue theirpassions.
So people that aren't involvedin North Star, that might be
listening or haven't done onlineschool, where do you meet?
(12:51):
What does it look like?
Like?
Give us a visual.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
So clubs are in teams , so all clubs are separate.
These are all high school clubsthat we talked about.
There are a few elementary andmiddle school clubs that are in
the general, like teams formiddle school and elementary
school, but all high schoolclubs have their own team, so
(13:15):
with separate channels.
So, for example, thinking aboutthe visual arts club, they have
their general channel and theyhave different channels for
different interests, likedifferent types of arts, like
painting, drawing, mixed media,photography, like I'm thinking
how there was a student, acouple students were really
interested in legos, so in lego.
(13:37):
So they asked, can we have alego channel?
And they made a lego channel.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
So yeah, basically, different channels for different
types of interest and yeah,rachel, anything you want to add
to that yeah, and then there'salso clubs that function a
little bit differently, like thechess club or the bible club,
where, um, the chess club has,like, they use a website where
(14:06):
you can play chess online, andso they use the club to
coordinate how they're gonna usethe website to play chess, and
all of this is monitored by astaff member, um, but the club
allows them to get together sothat they can play chess with
people that they know, and for awhile they had a tournament
(14:28):
running where they were.
You know they would play chessand then come back to the club
and be like, oh good game, guys,and that kind of thing, and so
that's really fun, um, and then,like, the bible club has a
channel for apologeticsdiscussions, which I think is
really cool, because, you, itcan be hard to discuss those
(14:50):
things in an environment thatfeels safe, but the Bible Club
is working really hard to havethat environment so things can
be discussed without gettingcrazy and heated.
So, yeah, just, different clubshave different ways that
they're set up, but the purposeof all of them is to bring
(15:12):
people together and allow themto discuss things and learn from
each other.
Clubs also have about once amonth sometimes more, sometimes
less a live call, so you gettogether.
I mean, none of this isrequired if you're in a club,
but if you would like to join alive call, they also have those,
(15:32):
which is really fun to you knowplay games together and discuss
things face to face.
Speaker 1 (15:37):
So I love it.
And to have all these clubs atNorthstar it takes a lot of work
and we need leaders like youand Zoe Rachel.
And so what have you learnedabout leading people?
Leadership skills that areneeded.
Where have you seen some growthin your own lives?
Speaker 2 (15:59):
I think one thing for me is it's a different role.
I was a club leader in the past, as was Zoe, and leading the
club.
You're wanting to, you'releading people, but it's not the
same as a club coordinator.
We're overseeing a group ofpeople and we're trying to
(16:21):
encourage them to do the thingsthat they need to do to get a
club ready or keep up with theclub or whatever.
But you also don't want to be adictator, because I mean, it is
their club and they get to doit the way they want to do it.
So I think that has beensomething that I've been
(17:08):
learning is like the balancebetween trying to encourage
people to move forward and growthemselves, while also you know
really well, and trying to helpothers grow without making them
think you hate them or that kindof thing.
So I don't know, it's just beendifferent, zoe.
What would you?
Would you agree with that?
Speaker 3 (17:20):
yes, definitely.
I think one of the main thingsthat, once we started working
with clubs with Rachel during,like June, we were planning for
them, we talked about how tomanage this balance between when
talking with club leaders, tomake sure they're doing the
things that they need to, butalso not being too overbearing
(17:41):
in the sense that just so thatclubs didn't feel like being a
club leader didn't feel like aresponsibility that was took too
much work, but something thatthey wanted to.
So that's a balance that's beena little hard sometimes to
manage because, again, you don'twant to seem like rude or that
you're just telling them do thisthing, you have to do this
thing, you have to do this thing.
(18:02):
No, so I think I have to workon that.
I've had to work on that a lotand also, I'd say that having
the mindset of servantleadership, so leading in the
way that Jesus led, so not being, like Rachel said, a dictator
that's just telling people whatto do and not caring for them,
but truly making sure thatyou're encouraging them and
(18:25):
helping them whatever you needto and making yourself available
and, yeah, also to make thatpossible.
I feel like I've had.
Something we've had to keep inmind is to try and make
ourselves seem like, remindschool leaders that we are also
(18:45):
just students, like we're notsome mighty people who doesn't
relate to what they're goingthrough.
We're just students who knowwhat it's like to have the
burden of school and that youcan fall behind.
So kind of make yourself seemlike people who relate to them
and who they can go to if theyare struggling with something.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
I love that Such incredible insight from both of
you about leadership and whatyou're learning, caring and
communicating and yeah, I'm justlike you, relational so I love
that so much and there's so muchmore for us to learn as leaders
, right, no matter what rolewe're in, how old we are.
(19:26):
So I'm excited for how you'regoing to be able to carry what
you're learning into the futureand all God has for you.
So thank you so much for justpressing in.
I know leadership can beexciting and fun, but it can
also be tough and lots of hardwork.
So I just thank you both so somuch for what you're putting in,
(19:47):
what you're doing and how youjust persevere each day.
One last question what has itbeen like just working with each
other?
Have you been able to build arelationship and leadership?
What's it been like to likeco-lead, Because sometimes
(20:08):
there's hard stuff with that,but there's great things
building friendships and justlearning from one another.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
I actually almost mentioned that when we were
talking about, like, what we'velearned in our roles.
I feel like Zoe has helped melearn and hopefully I've helped
her learn as well, because it'sso nice to have you know when
you're thinking, am I being tooharsh here?
You can say, hey, zoe, can youread this for me?
(20:38):
What do you think?
And so it's really nice to haveeach other to you know, know,
sound ideas off of and tweakwording so that you know,
especially in an online school,we want to make sure the message
sounds the way we want it tosound.
It doesn't sound mean oranything like that.
(20:59):
Um, I also think that you knowwe have different things we're
good at, and so that makes us abetter team to have each other.
Yeah, and Zoe and I have becomesuch good friends.
I'm so thankful that we got tomeet through this, because it's
(21:20):
been such a blessing to get toknow her.
I would not want to do thisrole by myself at all.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
That's so good.
I've been able to say thatthrough leadership about many
people too.
That's exciting, Zoe.
What about you?
Speaker 3 (21:37):
Yeah, I think the same thing.
It's been amazing having Rachelto work with.
I originally thought I wasgoing to be doing this job by
myself, which I was a little sadabout because I didn't want to
be the only one.
I kind of was looking forwardto that aspect of connecting
with people through studentcouncil.
So I was really excited when Ifound out that I was going to be
(22:01):
working with Rachel and, yeah,she has also helped me learn a
lot about a lot about howcommunication and boundaries and
how to talk to people best.
It's yeah, she mentioned it'sgreat having someone to go with.
Do you think this sounds to me?
Do you think this is fine?
Uh, what do you think aboutthis?
(22:22):
Just having another opinion isalways great and I have enjoyed
working with her so much.
And it's also great becausesometimes, where I'm a little
more busy some week or she's alittle more busy another week,
so we can kind of delegate a bitof work, be like, hey, can you
take care of this for now, I cando a little thing later.
So it's great having someoneelse to turn to.
(22:44):
And, yeah, we've become reallygood friends and I have really
enjoyed getting to know herbecause, yeah, I really love
going to her point of view.
So, yeah, it's been awesomegetting to work with her.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
That's so good.
I have a huge smile on my facejust hearing about the other
relationships that you've beenable to build with each other
and then among so many otherstudents a passion, a hobby,
something you're pursuing, andyou don't see that.
Or if you just have questionsabout clubs, please, please, zoe
(23:27):
and Rachel, I know, would loveto hear from you and talk with
you.
So if you're a parent,encourage your student to do
that.
If you're a student, just reachout.
Or maybe you just want to findout about other things going on
at North Star.
You're a little hesitant, alittle nervous.
Zoe and Rachel would be perfectpeople.
They love students and love.
(23:51):
I know you can hear theirhearts just caring for our
community.
So some great girls to reachout to, along with all the other
students that we've had on thepodcast.
Northstar is so blessed and Itry to say that every time
because I really see it andreally believe it with
incredible students that arelearning to be leaders and
leading right here and are sopassionate, and so I just thank
God so much for both of you andthe hard work you're doing, the
(24:14):
good work, the beautiful workand know that God's going to
keep continuing to do that.
So thanks for coming on todayand sharing with me.
It really means a lot.
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Thank you so much for having us.
Yeah, it was amazing to getthis opportunity to be here.
Speaker 1 (24:29):
Thank you so much for listening today.
If you have any questions forour guest 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
guest to feature, please emailus and let us know.
And don't forget to subscribeso you don't miss out on
(24:52):
upcoming stories.
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