Entitled high school students refuse to help teammate with their group science project, teammate decides they would rather fail than do the project alone: ‘The most satisfying failing grade in my entire life’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Sep 30, 2025 7:00 AM EDT

There are two types of students when it comes to group projects–those who do all the work, and those who do none of it. Getting paired up with students who put an equal amount of effort into the project is as rare as winning the lottery. 

When one student who does everything gets paired up only with students who do nothing, the situation might get complicated, which is exactly what happened in the story below.

This kid, a top student in science class, got paired with three kids who were barely passing the class. That would have been tolerable if they were willing to do some of the work, but when they announced that they expect the top student to do their entire project alone, it became clear what needs to be done. Instead of complying, this student decided they would rather get a 0 than do all the work for this lazy bunch. Luckily, they had a card up their sleeve to ensure that the failed project wouldn't affect their grade.

Keep scrolling to read how they pulled that off.

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  • 01
    Student Working on Laptop
    via DragonImages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    “Do all the work yourself or get 0%”

    In high school I was in a science class that I did very well in. I was top of the class and scored nearly 100% on every test and assignment.
    via wheresmychin
  • 03
    The teacher assigned a big group project that would take about a week to complete with a team of four students.
    via wheresmychin
  • 04
    Groups were randomly assigned, and unfortunately, I was paired up with three kids who were barely passing the class.
    via wheresmychin
  • 05
    In class we are given time to make plans together as a group to divide up work, examine the instructions, schedule times outside of school to meet up, etc.
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  • 06
    It was at this point my teammates decided to tell me that they weren't going to do any work on the project.
    via wheresmychin
  • 07
    I asked why, and they said they knew I really cared about my grade, so they figured I would do it on my own.
    via wheresmychin
  • 08
    They were so lazy they were banking on the fact I wouldn't tank my own grade, so they could benefit off of my hard work when I inevitably got a good score on the project.
    via wheresmychin
  • 09
    I was p ed and said that was unfair. They dug in and said "Too bad. Now you either do this project yourself or you'll get a 0%." Cue malicious compliance.
    via wheresmychin
  • 10
    Now, I could have gone to the teacher and he probably would have sorted this out, but a better idea struck me.
    via wheresmychin
  • 11
    Group of Students Collaborating on Project in Library
    via @monkeybusinessimages

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 12
    So I said "Fine, you win. I'll do what you say." They smiled smugly and thought that was that.
    via wheresmychin
  • 13
    But you see, this teacher had a policy that at the end of the semester your lowest grade (excluding finals) would be taken off your record.
    via wheresmychin
  • 14
    So, if you forgot to turn in an assignment or did really bad on one test, you got a mulligan so it wouldn't ruin your final grade.
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  • 15
    I had never done poorly on an assignment all year, so I never needed my mulligan.
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  • 16
    However, I knew that these sl heads all did. If they got a big fat zero on a crucial assignment, they would probably fail the class.
    via wheresmychin
  • 17
    So, I did exactly as they instructed. I did no work on the project all week.
    via wheresmychin
  • 18
    Just sat on it and bided my time. At the beginning of the next week all the students turned in their assignments.
    via wheresmychin
  • 19
    My team watched as I sat in my chair, unmoving. Finally one said: CLASSMATE: Hey OP, aren't you going to turn in the project?" ME: Oh, I didn't do the project.
    via wheresmychin
  • 20
    They were shocked and asked why the h_l I didn't do it. ME: You said do all the work or get a 0%.
    via wheresmychin
  • 21
    I choose 0%. They were all royally p ed. They all had to do credit recovery over the summer.
    via wheresmychin
  • 22
    They hated my guts, but I couldn't have cared less. It was the most satisfying failing grade in my entire life.
    via wheresmychin

  • As someone who used to do many projects alone because of entitled partners, I'm proud of this student for not giving up. Hopefully, this will teach these students a thing or two about team effort.

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Tags

class students malicious compliance assignment group projects group high school story entitled science immature high schoolers entitled people
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