The Unspoken Rules at NSA
By Zoe B.
Know the rules by Sean824 from Getty Images Created in Canva
Joining an online school can be an interesting experience, especially if you’ve never done something like it before. I joined NSA after having been at an in-person school all my life, and I’ve been here for four years. Therefore, as my parting gift before graduating, I’m here to talk about some of the unspoken rules at NSA that I’ve learned throughout my time here.
During calls, the default is mic off.
You don’t want to be the one responsible for all the background noise in a call. Therefore, default to having your mic off. Turn it on only when you have to speak and turn it off afterwards. This can help you avoid an uncomfortable situation where your mom is yelling at you, and you don’t realize your microphone is on.
2. People are going to spy on your background.
If you’re on a call with several other people, especially if it’s a class, then you should know people are most likely going to look at your background closely. This is not to scare you; they’re usually just curious. I simply recommend making sure your background looks presentable before getting on a call.
3. We don’t judge appearances.
This might sound ironic considering the last one, but I will say this: people at NSA will not judge what you look like on a call or in a recording. This is not to say you should not make an effort to look presentable, but the truth is, life gets busy at times. I've joined calls right after training when it’s 110°F outside, so you can imagine I didn’t look my best. Therefore, in the same way others are not going to judge what you look like, you shouldn't judge others either.
4. We don’t judge personalities.
You may be surprised when starting at NSA at some of the conversations you’ll see. However, one of the most important unspoken rules is that you don’t call people weird or anything of the sort, unless it’s very clear you’re joking. This allows for a safe space where people are not afraid to be their true selves.
5. The chat is half the class.
When you’re in a live class or on a call, you’re going to notice the chat is usually very active. Now, this is not me encouraging you to be distracted in class, because you should always listen to your teachers. However, I will say that if you’re not at least reading the chat, you’re missing out.
6. It's probably a joke.
In an online space, it can be hard to tell whether someone is being serious or not. Therefore, I’ve employed the philosophy of always giving people the benefit of the doubt and taking things as a joke if I’m not sure. People are usually not trying to be offensive; things can come across differently than how one meant them. From this, you should learn to always be clear about whether you’re joking or not, so that people don’t need to doubt your intentions.
7. Don't text teachers on weekends.
Now, this is not a firm rule, and I’ve broken it myself at times. However, if you can wait, avoid texting or emailing teachers on weekends. It's a way to respect their boundaries. The feature to schedule messages on Teams is going to be your best friend (it has been mine).
8. Do not use the @everyone ping.
Unless you have explicit permission to do so –and if you do, you’ll know– students are not allowed to use the @everyone ping in Teams. The only thing this leads to is a lot of students (and staff members) becoming annoyed, so make sure to refrain from using it. (For clarification, the everyone ping sends a notification to every person who is in that team.)
9. Status messages are often crazy.
In teams, you'll see some normal status messages of people simply introducing themselves, but you’ll also see many status messages that will leave you thinking, what was that? If in doubt, feel free to ask the person about their status; they will likely enjoy explaining it to you.
10. Don't brag if you’re on time.
You'll quickly find out that most NSA students are behind in their classes. If you find yourself in this position, you can rest assured knowing you’re not alone. However, if you are on time, please do not brag about it, because most people are not.
Those are the main unspoken rules at NSA. There are more, which you’ll likely learn along the way, but if you know those before starting, you should be fine. I hope my wisdom proves to be useful, and I can't wait to hear new rules that form throughout the years.
Columns: 🧑🚀NSA Culture, 🔎Informational
Zoe B. lives in Argentina with her parents and one of her two brothers. This is her fourth and last year at NorthStar Academy, as she's currently a senior. This is her second year in the Navigator and in Student Council, where she currently holds the position of Vice President. In her free time, she enjoys going to the gym, reading, baking, and watching Formula 1.