Teen Refuses Sympathy for Classmate’s Mental Health Struggles, Gives Them a 0 on Group Project

Group projects can be a nightmare, especially when one member doesn’t pull their weight. In this high-stakes situation, a 15-year-old girl found herself doing all the work for her classmate, who was responsible for designing and planning their project. After weeks of frustration, she and her other group members decided to give this classmate a 0 on the group evaluation. But when the classmate finally showed up and pleaded for mercy, citing their struggles with depression and anxiety, our protagonist was unmoved. She told them she didn’t care and still gave them a 0.

The High-Stakes Project

The Slacker Classmate

No Show, No Work

Picking Up the Slack

Late and Sloppy Work

Fed Up Group Members

A Desperate Plea

No Sympathy Given

A Tough Lesson Learned?

This 15-year-old girl had zero sympathy for her classmate’s mental health struggles, as they failed to contribute to their high-stakes group project. Despite their pleading, she and her other group members gave the slacker a 0 on the group evaluation. Was she too harsh, or was this a necessary wake-up call? Let’s dive into some of the top reactions from the internet!

NTA- Don’t feel bad, you did the right thing.

NTA for expecting upfront communication about mental health affecting project.

NTA – Late work deserves no marks, mental illness irrelevant.

Don’t let anyone make you feel bad for struggling with mental health

Student with mental health issues given 0 on group project. NTA.

Discussing mental health with teachers is important for equal opportunities. NTA

Former teacher agrees OP NTA, blames lack of mental health services

Honesty is key. NTA for giving a 0 on group project.

Late disclosure of mental health struggles led to missed accommodations.

Don’t let others bring you down for their struggles.

It’s not your responsibility to handle your teammate’s mental health ‍♀️

Balancing empathy and responsibility in group projects

Commenter defends student who gave a 0 on group project, says they’re not the a**hole for not disclosing mental health struggles earlier.

Fair grading and consideration for disability exceptions.

No sympathy for mental health accommodations?

Mental health struggles or laziness? NTA or ESH?

Team member’s mental health struggles not an excuse for poor performance

Overcoming depression to do group work, NTA wins sympathy ❤️

Mentally ill student defends the teacher’s decision on group project.

Legal obligation to grade based on work, not just word. NTA.

Don’t let mental illness be an excuse for bad behavior.

Balancing compassion and enablement for mentally ill classmates

Be understanding, depression makes no sense

Commenter dismisses classmate’s mental health struggles as excuse for laziness

Group project gone wrong – missing member gets what they deserve!

Mental health and academic excellence: Can they coexist?

Facing the music: one student’s remorse for their behavior

Balancing mental health and teamwork is tough, but NTA for 0.

Making effort and explaining the situation is key.

Prioritizing education over mental health?

Stigmatizing mental health issues in group projects

Wise words to live by when dealing with difficult people

Don’t let someone use mental illness as an excuse. NTA

Dealing with difficult colleagues can be a nightmare

Group projects can be a nightmare, NTA for calling out slackers

Student receives backlash for insensitive comment on mental health.

Objectively presenting evidence is key. NTA for holding accountable.

Fairness in group projects, or lack thereof

Student’s lack of empathy towards mental health struggles sparks outrage

Commenter shows lack of empathy towards mental health struggles

Avoiding group projects to prevent NTA situations

Commenter shares frustration with using mental health as an excuse. NTA.

Teen receives praise for not giving sympathy in group project

Commenter shares personal experience with mental health struggles and responsibilities.

Fair rating or lack of empathy? NTA comment sparks debate.

Mental illness not an excuse for everything, NTA comment defends.

Addressing mental health issues in group projects: NTA or YTA?

Honesty is the best policy . Texting reminders was thoughtful

Unapologetic response, no sympathy for mental health struggles.

Communication is key . NTA holds accountable for actions.

Group mate shows up late, does nothing, gets 0. NTA

Mental health shaming? Not cool.

Encouraging individual responsibility for academic success

Zero tolerance for lazy coworkers in school and work

Prioritizing mental health is important, but communication is key. NTA.

Communicating with your group and teacher is key . NTA for expecting accountability.

Honesty is important, judge based on work, not mental health struggles

Advocacy is a life skill, but empathy goes a long way

Commenter defends student’s decision to give 0 on group project

Don’t blame the student for not covering for their classmate’s struggles.

Responsibility for mitigation lies with the individual, not their classmates.

Taking responsibility for your mental health doesn’t make you TA

Commenter defends giving 0 on group project due to classmate’s mental health

Taking responsibility for your mental health is important

Hold accountable for lack of effort, NTA

Don’t let group projects bring down your grades ‍

Being upfront about mental health issues to avoid affecting others. NTA

Don’t blame them for giving a 0 after doing all the work. NTA

Take responsibility for your mental health but communicate with others.

No sympathy for mental health struggles? NTA says it’s justified.

Mental illness not an excuse? Engage with caution

Encouraging empathy and understanding towards mental health accommodations for classmates.

Taking responsibility for mental health: NTA’s comment on schoolwork struggles.