Group work is supposed to prepare us for the real world. They build teamwork, communication and leadership skills we need beyond the classroom. And in theory, I get it. In the workforce, not one person can work on a project alone. Also in the workforce, not everyone pulls their weight.
I expect to face incompetence someday in an office, not in a classroom surrounded by peers who should know how to do their part. Being super transparent, most of us are all working for that good grade. But what makes it worse in this high school setting is that we can’t call HR on these people because they’re “friends.” You can’t call them out without seeming harsh, and you can’t ignore them without looking arrogant.
When group projects actually function, I love to bounce ideas off others where everyone is contributing equally, but it’s rare. More often, “group work” turns into one person leading the group and taking on the responsibility to put everything together. It’s funny when I see someone with their laptop open “researching” when their screen clearly shows a Discord chat instead of the topic we’re discussing.
Sometimes, when I get paired up with certain people, I see the relief written on their faces. They would joke, “She’s definitely carrying” or “Oh, I’m set.” On one hand, it’s flattering because I like that my reputation for working hard precedes me. But on the other hand, it’s frustrating. Does this excuse you from trying? Does it let you do nothing then? Are you going to just sit back and let yourself be carried?
Too many people care about how they’re perceived. Nobody wants to be the “bossy” one who tells everyone what to do, even if it’s necessary. Nobody wants to create an awkward environment over something as minor as a group project. So instead, we stay silent, do the extra work and pretend it’s fine, because at this point, preserving a friendship feels more important than demanding fairness.
If group projects are meant to prepare us for the real world, then they need to be restructured so people are held accountable. Progress checks or even anonymous peer evaluations would help because, honestly, our generation feels safer when names aren’t attached to critique.
In a way, group projects do prepare us for the adult world, as we learn to deal with people who don’t care as much as we do. But, my classmates aren’t coworkers I can clock out on. They’re peers and friends my age, so they should know better.
