A difficult course for me

[psycmajor]

I'm taking a course now where partner work is required. My first partner did not work out. My second partner (the one I have now) is also not working out. The teacher's assistant suggested that I do a part of the project (data collection) with a friend instead of her. The teacher's assistant agreed. But now she's saying that I need to work with my lemon of a partner again. Just when I thought I had some hope, my partner complains that she can't do this by herself, and I'm stuck with her. I'M SO SICK OF HAVING TO DEAL WITH STUPID PEOPLE!!!!! WHY DOES THIS HAVE TO BE SUCH AN IMPEDIMENT IN MY LIFE!!!

 

[Hopeful]

can you do it yourself? i dont know what to say but you could talk to the professor (not the TA) and she might allow you to do it yourself, or maybe join another group, not necessarily finding another partner good luck

 

[psycmajor]

Nope, I HAVE to collect data with a partner to measure interrater reliability. HAVE to.

I asked about joining another group, and it's too late to do that.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I HATE PARTNER WORK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[allybug]

Well I'm sorry you are having problems, I dislike stupid people as well.  But just remember God will never give you more than you can handle!!!

 

[psycmajor]

Ha hahahaha

I admit that I'm not always smart, but it's like they have this magnetic attraction to me!!!

I consider myself fairly open to what other people have to say, but it's like my past 2 partners have had nothing come out of their brains except stuff that wouldn't work for the project! And don't get me wrong, I don't put them down or imply that they're stupid. I don't think I treat them like they're stupid, so they'd act accordingly if I did. They just refuse to think!!! It's like, "Duhh...I don't know. I have no idea. You decide. Duhhhh.." And I feel like I have to wait on them to do stuff, instead of just going ahead and doing it.

I don't care that stupid/lazy/dependent/(combination) folks exist. It's when they affect my life and especially my grades and sanity that I care!!!!!

And professors and their little teacher's assistants don't care, because they've got other things they have to do.

 

[allybug]

You'll do fine!!!

 

[Flipper]

I have sooooo been there. I was in an accelerated night program while working full time to finish my degree. Most of my classmates, were in the same boat, working full time, while finishing their degree. Many had children at home as well. Since everyone has different times they can do their homework and are lucky enough to have time to make it to class, most profs understood and the projects were geared to individuals. If we did group projects in some classes, they were tailored to doing the individual work outside of class and coming together into the group to put it together in class. I don't like group work either, but I could handle that, because the prof can still see the parts done and who did each part, if there is an issue of one of the group not working or being stupid. Then, we get a prof who has us do the complete take-the-time-to-get-together-for-very-long-periods-of-time-outside-of-class projects in groups of 2. This was a global business class in November/December. I was lucky enough to get a partner who was smart and willing to do her part, but she worked a full time+overtime job like I did and we simply could not get together like we should to do the project. We flew by the seat of our pants and got through it, but it didn't make for a very fun Christmas.

My other nightmare was in a traditional sociology class years ago, we were put in groups of 4 to do a research paper. We all did our part except for 1, who finally volunteered to type the paper at the end. On the day we were to turn it in the paper, I was horrified to find my part of the paper completely changed, as were everyone else's. I asked her why the paper was changed. She had her step-dad read the paper when she was through typing and he made changes - I mean bad changes. AAAHHHH!!!!!

I wish I had words of advice, except that if the prof is smart and observant, he/she can usually tell who is the brains of the project. I'll say a prayer, hang in there!!

 

[kimmee]

you wil be fine!!

 

[Hope4theHopeless]

I'm sure you will do just great. You can handle it!! Good Luck!!

 

[wvmtnkid]

Maybe you should look at it as an opportunity to work on getting along with people you might not like. Not trying to be a smart-alec here, but this might help prepare you on down the road for something. I know at work I am sometimes asked to collaborate on a project with those I don't always see eye to eye with or that I don't think do their share of work, but if I want to get paid, I have to learn to work well with others. Maybe this is what this experience is about. Not that it makes things any easier, but a different mind set may help you get through it. Until then, praying things will work out for you and you will be able to get through the project and the class.