Group Dynamics

 I love to work with friends in groups. I like being able to work with people who know and respect me. When I'm in a group with friends, I am able to share my ideas more because I know that my friends won't make fun of them or put them down. I also think that when working with friends, it is harder to get into arguments and easier to work it out when they disagree. It's not to say there are not any disadvantages to this situation, however. I know that for me, when I'm with friends in a group I'm more laid back about finishing work. For some people, that's not always a good thing. It's too easy to get distracted by friends in a group. For example, one person can be playing a computer game and suddenly (since everyone in the group likes the same game) everyone is absorbed in their friend's new high score. Nobody is working, and therefore, the project is turned in late. I know a lot of teachers are against letting students work with close friends for this very reason, but I think we should get a bit more say in this. Not all friends don't work well together; it's just an assumption. When I am working with my friends, I am able to focus. It's a good situation for me because when I work with people I don't know as well it's harder to settle arguments and respect each other. I'm always glad when teachers give me the option of choosing groups.
I've been in some pretty hard group situations, but by far the hardest one started at the beginning of the year. As I was walking into the room for the first time, I noticed I didn't know anyone there. I sat by myself at a table until two other girls sat down at the same place. However, I knew one of them had an obviously bad reputation as a "mean girl" and I wasn't too happy about having her at our table. To make matters worse, she had been mean to me before...and I didn't want it to happen again. I realized I would have to wait until she actually did something to tell the teacher. But she was being relatively okay...until she started Googling pictures of me and my other group member during work time. My other group member would lean over to look at the pictures and immediately they would start laughing and chatting. It was hard for me to do all the work alone. Plus, I was curious about the pictures too. I tried to make the girls get the message that we should work during work time, but it wasn't working. That's when I told the teacher. After a few times talking to the teacher, she said she understood and soon the class switched seats. I was glad to be out of that group, but now I was faced with the challenge of learning to get along with an all-boys table. However, the boys my teacher put me with turned out to be really nice and (get this) they were nicer than the girls because they respected me. So everything turned out okay. I was at a table with people I could get along with and not with a "mean girl." I continue to grow and learn at that same table, and I actually look forward to that part of the day so I can escape all of the girl drama in the first place.