STC Teaches Teamwork?

by Cassie, UNT Student

This redesign of the Technically Write newsletter will be my second project for STC in a year. With each project, I learned valuable lessons and gained work experience in the profession that I will enter at the end of the year. Doubling the size of my portfolio with real-world projects is not the reason I appreciated and enjoyed these STC projects.

These assignments taught me how to work well with others—a lesson I have been learning all my life. They taught me to depend on others when it comes to school work, which is something I always found difficult. As an English major, I grew accustomed to working alone, and I really enjoyed it. Aside from the workload, it was stress- and blame-free. It was always up to me to read the material, form an argument, and write the paper. I was the one in charge; I knew what I had finished and what I had left to do. Then these STC projects stepped in and shattered my control.

Before STC, I could count on one hand the number of group projects I have had in my five years at UNT. Each of those group projects essentially turned into solo missions—mainly from my own doing. I was so used to working alone that I would not let my team members have major roles in the assignment. I did not want to have to depend on them.

I had no choice but to hand over the reins at times when STC came into the picture. The time and skills that these projects required forced me to not only let go of some of the project, but to fully depend on my group mates. I know that I have been blessed with wonderful group mates, which has made the process easier.

y last year at UNT turned out to be more influential and helpful than all the previous years combined. In four years, I learned how to be a successful student, but in one year, I learned how to be a student, teacher, and coworker. As much of a pain as these projects were at times, I thank you for the opportunity; they have bettered me as a person, student, and future employee.