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Illustration by Ryleigh Hood<\/a><\/p>\n Students sometimes find group work daunting or a waste of time and expect the worst outcome with such projects. They may prefer to avoid it and complete individual work instead.<\/p>\n The Shorthorn Editorial Board believes collaboration is an integral part of growth, helping prepare students\u00a0for the job market by fostering soft skills needed for a\u00a0successful career.<\/p>\n Even with the added benefits of working with others, some students may hesitate due to the thought of competing with their peers.<\/p>\n Collin Stephenson, UTA research success librarian, said this can stem from competing for academic standings in high school and the idea that a higher GPA means greater success in the future.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve built competition into the education experience on that front that can sometimes carry over into the rest of our lives,\u201d\u00a0Stephenson said.<\/p>\n GPA requirements for scholarships, honors and student jobs may continue to foster this idea.<\/p>\n At a Glance <\/p>\n The Issue:\u00a0Students might see academic success and excellence as a competition, making them less willing to engage in group work.<\/p>\n We Think:\u00a0Finding balance between pursuing academic success and building interpersonal skills is integral to career success.<\/p>\n Take Action:\u00a0Students should look to practice teamwork and build the soft skills required for the workforce.<\/p>\n Though grades and GPA hold weight in school, they tend to matter less when entering the job market.<\/p>\n When expected to work\u00a0in groups, students might focus on the potential negative outcomes, like their partners not carrying their weight and the idea of their grades depending on someone else\u2019s work.<\/p>\n Stephenson said those fears can make collaborative work difficult, but they shouldn\u2019t hold students back.<\/p>\n \u201cEven when there is that tension with group work, that tension is still part of the growth process,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Stephenson also said that today information is readily available at students\u2019 fingertips. So much information is impossible for students to carry on their own, and no single student can hold all the skills that many projects require, he said.<\/p>\n