Group projects by Alex

Group projects by Alex - June 2016 Scholarship Essay

Let me just tell you that I’ve been hundred of group and partner projects before. But never have I ever been stuck with someone who has done lesson 2% of a semester long project. Has a Junior I recently picked up a second major in psychology, meaning I had to go back and take an entry-level psychology course. Of course, being a lower division psychology class, I was the only junior. On the first day of class, my professor told us that we had a group project and that we were to pair up with an individual in class. I didn’t know a single person in class and simply agreed to be partners with the last individual available. Little did I know that I had just dug myself into a deep deep hole.
This was a semester long project, divided into three sections with due dates. Throughout the semester my psychology partner would argue about everything. If he ever words on the project it was literally the hour before it was due, by which at this time I had already completed the project because I am taking 20 credits and needed to keep things organized and completed on time. Multiple times throughout the semester I would request that the individual help with the extreme project, and instead he would simply criticize everything I had already done without offering an alternative. With this research project, we were told that we needed to have as many subjects as we could get. Alone, I had over 200 people in two day’s fill out our survey, while he didn’t have a single one. I constantly had to send him reminders about the assignments, What to do, and when they were due. He constantly had excuses for not doing his work such as moving into a house, falling asleep, and wait till the last minute with other homeworks. I have never had a partner so and organize and unwilling to help with a semester long project.
On the bright side, I am very optimistic. I found a way. I emailed my professor and talked with her during office hours and after class. We tried to figure out what I should do. I’ve been told multiple times that I have too much initiative, and I think that’s what took over and made this a successful learning experience. I alone completed all of the projects on my own without his help. He had his excuses, and I had mine (working three jobs and taking 20 credits, but I made sure that the assignment got done on time.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s so we can’t always rely on others. I had to step up my game and persevere. I had to push through the difficult times and I learned that I have a very strong individual that can get things done with hard work. I learned that their individuals in this world that are slackers and don’t want to help assist others, but it’s okay to go above and beyond and cover their work. I learned proper communication techniques and those kind of situations, as well as, time management and independence. All those a hard semester, I pushed through till the end. From this experience, I took away a lot, I’ve learned a ton. I wouldn’t go back to change it, because I came out as a stronger individual who’s learned more things than you can simply get out of a textbook or be taught by a teacher.