Why Do I Feel Guilty About Considering a Negative Peer Evaluation for My Friend?
We have a midterm project for our Business Finance class, and I’ve been persistently reminding my friend to complete her portion. Unfortunately, she hasn’t followed through. She often responds with vague promises like, “Yeah, I’ll do it,” but then nothing happens. In our group of four, she only seems to engage when we are all together, and even then, she relies on the rest of us to cover for her when she claims to be busy or goes offline. I’ve stressed to her that I have other commitments and really need her contribution to finish this project on time.
So far, I’ve objectively taken on the bulk of the work. Our other group members have even apologized for not being able to help more, but my friend is focused on other priorities, even though we are racing against the clock.
It’s ironic because she doesn’t like our other group members, often calling them “lazy,” yet they’ve been contributing more than she has. Meanwhile, she worries about receiving a poor peer evaluation from them if that option becomes available.
I reached out to our instructors to request a peer evaluation, explaining my concerns about one member getting the same grade as the rest of us. While I value our friendship, I don’t believe it’s fair for her to receive a good grade when she’s hardly contributed. The most she’s done is join our group call to explain that she was at the mall all day.
I tried to communicate my feelings to her again, but she only offered a half-hearted apology after I mentioned that our groupmates had expressed their regrets to me.
This isn’t like her; I know she can perform well under pressure. I’m not sure why she’s falling short in this particular course.
It sounds like you’re in a tough situation, and it’s completely understandable to feel conflicted about giving your friend a bad peer evaluation, especially since you both have a history as friends. It’s evident that you’ve put a lot of effort into this project and have communicated your concerns to her, but it seems like she hasn’t responded in a way that matches your level of commitment.
It’s important to remember that peer evaluations are meant to reflect individual contributions fairly. If your friend isn’t pulling her weight, it’s not just unfair to you and the rest of the group, but it could also jeopardize your grades. It’s not a reflection of your friendship, but rather a necessary step to ensure accountability in group work.
You might also want to consider how you express your concerns to her in your evaluation. If there’s a way to be constructive and honest about her lack of contribution while still acknowledging your friendship, that could help you resolve some of the guilt you’re feeling.
Ultimately, it sounds like you’ve done your best to reach out and support her, and at this point, it’s out of your hands. Focus on your own responsibilities and the quality of your work, and hope that she can find a way to step up in the future. It might also be worth having a candid conversation with her after this project, emphasizing how group dynamics work and the importance of everyone pulling their weight, especially in friendship.