Working in Groups

When working in groups I have discovered that it is most difficult to leave a group when the group works well together.  The group has created a bond and the bond is strongest when the team members can relate to one another.  For example when I had to work with other education professionals to grade a sister school, we became comfortable and close to hold discussions.  When our adventure was over we found it difficult to part ways and return to our own schools.  We all stayed in touch and continued working with each other through emails.  When I compare this work to the work I did in college with group work, I realize now that my college groups were  not as effective as this professional group.  We did not work together well as goals were not set and roles were not distributed properly. Each member of the college group was simply out to get a good grade; it did not matter how effective our planning or strategy was as long as the outcome was a positive and each member of the group contributed.  Also, if one member of the group did not finish all of the work adequately, then the other members would simply pick up the slack.  At the end of the group or class, we would all part ways.  No further contact was made nor was it desired.
  I did notice that at the end of my first Master's program with Walden University, there was a sense of loss, or sadness.  I had been with the same group of adults for 18 months, and at the end there was nothing left.  That is the only part of the online programs that is not my favorite.  I can only hope that when this program ends I will have built some type of professional relationships with others so I can continue to get outside professionals.