Wednesday, 30 July 2025
The theme of this month is showing understanding. Some may think this isn’t a big deal. Let us explain to you the importance of seeking mutual understanding by the following story.
Leo is a secondary 1 student. He is going to do a group project with his classmates and he is elected to be the leader of his team. As the deadline of the project is approaching, he suggested a visit to a historic landmark. However, everyone in his group ignores him. Leo thinks he is responsible for leading the group, so he notes all the important information for the project first, and then asks his group mates to make the slides and practice for the presentation. Unfortunately, they are passive and seem unwilling to cooperate at all.
Leo wants his partners to contribute. Yet, most of his partners have a lot of work to do
beyond school. Leo finds no way to push them. But he cannot just sit there and wait, right? Therefore, he has to complete the whole project all by himself.
Until one day before the presentation, Leo is too shy to invite his team mates to preview his draft in a WhatsApp group, because he suppose they are not ready to share the tasks with him at all. Everyone looks rather busy and indifferent so he is scared of being refused if he asks. Therefore, all the members have no idea of what they are to say the next day, let alone get around practicing their parts. During the lesson when they stand out to present in front of the class, they perform badly. No one is clear of their turn so some rush to speak while some didn’t pick up in time. Most of them” are stammering due to unfamiliarity with the lines. The team feel ashamed of being not well prepared. The teacher shakes her head in disappointment for their bad performance.
Leo was extremely upset. He guesses the team will blame him for not assigning tasks and practicing beforehand. But it is unfair. After the lesson, Leo summon up the courage to ask all the members to come to his seat to have a briefing because he feel it is high time to communicate in case of further misunderstanding. After exchanging feelings and views with each other, Leo realizes that his team mates hesitate a lot in preparing the presentation because they feel they are weak in English and lacking in confidence. The group mates show gratitude for him and promise to take initiative next time. Leo feels it is vital to communicate and organize meetings to improve understanding between each other despite all difficulties.
Perhaps many of us would get mad at the same situation. However, Leo chooses to
be understanding towards his peers so that they can learn to cooperate better. We
hope we will be braver to break the ice and promote mutual understanding instead of withdrawing or waiting. Learn to be more understanding and constructive, which is the only way to achieve better in any project.
1M
25 May 2023