entry #2: the worst group project is... actually okay

Dear Diary...

One thing I absolutely hate about school is group projects. Always have hated them, always will. When it comes to school assignments I like to do it my way and get it done as fast as possible. I've always been the 'smart' kid and working alone has always come easy to me. Working with others is a pain. Giving up a certain amount of control, having to socialize, usually stuck doing everything... gross. Fortunately, most groups I've worked with have been amazing at best, bearable at worst.

Until this one.

This group wasn't just bad. They were an enigma. The good news is, this story has an okay ending, hence this diary entry and its title. But MAN the journey here was weird.

I don't have the best social skills. I'm pretty awkward and don't usually know what to say or how to lead a conversation. But these group members... it was like they've never even had a conversation before. I would say something and they just... wouldn't respond? Or give short, one word answers. I'd say something to try and start a conversation about our project and they wouldn't continue it. This also an online class, so we were in a Zoom call, and two group members kept their cameras off most of the time.

I tried to lead the assignment, creating a Google Doc for us to share information. I found a ton of online resources and websites to use and even created a basic outline for our PowerPoint presentation, making short notes about what could go on each slide. Barely a response or even a 'thank you' from my groupmates. During our next class when I explained I had been busy all week but would start on the project soon, no response. When I highlighted a section in the Google Doc stating what I would work on, no initiative to work on something else. When I asked if my ideas were okay, I got a basic "yeah, if that's what you want." Okay.

So I buckled down on the weekend and just did my part. I even took on an extra slide so overall everyone had less to do. I found even more resources. I started the PowerPoint and completed my slides. And no one else had done anything. I checked too, nearly every day, to see if anything was added to the Google Doc. After a week, someone had added maybe two paragraphs. Holy.

But there's a good ending to this story, kind of. Just before I wrote this entry, I had class. After the lecture, we were given time to work with our groups. And it was like I was given an entirely different group. They were talking! Taking initiative on what to work on! They thanked me for my work and apologized for not doing anything. At the end, they had a clear idea of what they were each going to work on and told me they'd keep in touch if they needed any extra help or guidance. OMG! Finally. This class would've been my last straw before I went to the professor but they turned it around! Now, there was one member who didn't show up and hadn't contributed anything, and ALSO hadn't contributed anything to the other groups he was in. But oh well. I could deal with one slacker, I just didn't want to deal with three.

So yeah. The worst group project of my life may be better now. I have another group project in another class, but I'm much more hopeful about that one as we can choose our partners and I made a friend in that class. So my group project luck is finally turning around!

In other news, I got a haircut today and it's sooo nice. My hair is much more shorter and lighter now, and my hairdresser gives the BEST head massages and scratches. Work wasn't too bad either. I work in a public library as a shelver, so usually people don't talk to me, but today I got a lot of questions and helped a lot of people! I hope I did okay. I get really anxious about helping people at work because I always feel like I mess up and give them the wrong answers or responses. But that's something I'll just have to work on. But yeah. Overall, pretty good day.

Anyway, it's getting late and I'm off to bed. Have a good night reader!

Love,

Claire