Group assignments are a hassle on their own, but when you get thrown into a group of lazy and incompetent people, you know you’re in for the worst assignment of your life.

The late nights, the follow up emails, the fact that half your grade depends on some lousy students — it’s never easy being the group leader.

So, for all those students out there always doing the hard slog, we salute you. If you are reading this and can’t relate, then soz, but you’re the reason people hate group assignments.

#1 The Feeling of Dread When You See “Group Assignment” On Your Course Outline

Well, I guess it’s time to change my degree!

I mean, look, I guess group assignments are not completely useless. I’m sure our lecturer wants to promote working in a team or whatever, but it also promotes how to work with a bunch of idiots who don’t pull their weight. That, or the lecturer just didn’t want as much paperwork to mark.

#2 Always Being The One To Organise EVERYTHING 

Someone has got to take charge, right? It sucks always being the one who has to organise group meetings, chase people down for assignments and putting in more hours than anyone else.

People seem to think that they can just tag along for the ride while one person does all the work. But then they still get the same mark for slapping their name on the assignment, which brings us to number three.

#3 Not Being Afraid To Bitch About Your Group Members

When it gets down to it, you know you were the one doing 90 per cent of the work. And if you’re petty AF then you know that there is no way you are going to let your so called “team mates” take equal share of your effort.

You’re not afraid to tell your lecturer who did all the work, even if you feel like a snitch. It’s time we get some recognition, god dammit!

#4 Having A Constant Rage Burning Within You

Being the leader of a lousy group feels like having a permanent hate fire burning within you. For the whole semester.

Every little thing that starts to tick you off is being suppressed because you don’t want to be bossy or start an argument that makes it awkward for the whole assignment. But after everyone bails at the last minute for your group meeting once again, you feel like you want to punch something. 

#5 When Everyone Gets Equal Marks BUT YOU DID ALL THE WORK 

Nothing is worse than putting your (already diminished) heart and soul into your assignment, only for the lecturer to lazily give out equal marks. Or worse yet, the person who did the least work gets a higher mark than you. * eye twitches *

#6 Feeling Like A Nag All The Time 

All group leaders will know this feeling. You don’t want to come across as a nag but at the same time, WHY AREN’T YOU PULLING YOUR WEIGHT SUSAN!? It’s so difficult to navigate how to take charge of the group without feeling like a dictator. But most of the time you just have to accept you’re going to be the nag of the group that sends 10 emails a day to remind them of the due date. You know that group assignments bring out the worst in you, but someone has gotta get it done.

#7 Having Those Awkward Arguments

You can’t avoid them. I can guarantee you there will be at least one awkward argument you will have to initiate in your group. It usually starts with you feeling like you’re doing all the work and then the lazy people defending themselves with whatever bullshit excuse they come up with. Odds are you’ll come to some sort of agreement, but there will always be that awkward tension from there on. *sigh * Is it too late to defer?

Sophie Nicolas is studying a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and is an aspiring writer, dog enthusiast and thrift shop fashion icon.

(Lead image: Grownish/abc)