Etiquette Spark: Inspired by Kalpana Mam

You’re attending a college function, but you notice your friends are being disrespectful during a speech. What should you do?

• Join them in being disrespectful to avoid standing out

• Ignore them and focus on the speech

• Politely ask them to quiet down and show respect for the speaker

• Leave the event to avoid confrontation

You have an exam tomorrow, and you realize you haven’t studied at all. What’s your plan?

• Open your notes and hope for the best.

• Panic and post a dramatic story on social media.

• Start a study group... at the coffee shop.

• Accept your fate and plan for a fun night out instead.

You’re working in a shared study space, and your group has become loud, distracting other students. What is the best course of action?

• Continue studying without adjusting your volume

• Quiet down or move to a more appropriate place for group work

• Apologize to the other students but continue talking at the same volume

• Ignore the complaints of the other students

You have an appointment with your professor to discuss a sensitive issue, but they seem preoccupied with other tasks. What should you do?

• Insist on talking about your issue immediately

• Talk quickly and leave before they become more distracted

• • Cancel the meeting and email them your concerns instead

• Respect their time and ask if they would prefer to reschedule for a better moment

If a fellow student disagrees with you in a group discussion, how should you respond?

• Argue back loudly

• Listen to their point and respond respectfully

• Ignore their argument

• Interrupt and cut them off

You’re in a group project, and one member does absolutely nothing. How do you react?

• Start a group chat to discuss their 'mysterious absence.'

• Assign them the most ridiculous tasks possible.

• Make passive-aggressive comments during meetings.

• Plan a surprise 'team-building' day where they have to do all the work

You notice a fellow student cheating during a college exam. What should you do?

• Report the incident to the professor after the exam without making it public

• Speak to the student privately after the exam and suggest they stop cheating

• Confront them during the exam

• Ignore the situation

What should you do when someone is speaking to you in a conversation?

• Listen attentively and avoid interrupting

• Look around the room

• Interrupt if you have something to say

• Change the topic to something more interesting

You’re late for class and can’t find your notes. What’s your excuse?

• "My dog ate them."

• "I was conducting a very important experiment: sleep vs. study."

• "I was saving the world from impending doom... you know, the usual."

• "I thought class was next week!"

What is the best way to dress for a formal business event?

• Wear whatever is comfortable

• Dress according to the event’s dress code

• Wear something very casual

• • Ask someone else what they are wearing and copy them