Thinking+Interdependently

=Thinking Interdependently=

"Take care of each other. Share your energies with the group. No one must feel alone, cut off, for that is when you do not make it." Willie Unsoeld Renowned Mountain Climber

The irony of this habit “Thinking Interdependently” was that I had to go ask someone what it meant (I was “working” with someone else, or at least sharing ideas). Thinking interdependently refers to the combined thinking of an entire “group” of people—a collaboration, almost. The group collectively discusses and arrives at a conclusion, or may simply be sharing knowledge/ideas.

For all my arrogance and bluntness sometimes, I think this is one habit I do fairly well in. Case in point: us four girls in the chemistry class worked well this year as a group. We might not necessarily always consulted the group for every question in chemistry class this year, but definitely, whenever I had a question, I only need to turn around and face my lab partner. Didn’t understand a new concept? Turn left and there’s the person to ask. Find some weird discrepancy between lab data and expected results? Look diagonally left and there’s a person to ask.

This is a significant habit to have, because humans are fundamentally social creatures. My dad often tells me that if the end of the world really occurred, and only one human survived, the human race would not endure very long. Why? Because that one sole survivor would go mad/crazy/insane over the loneliness of being alone (or just simply the absence of a companion around them). Thus, this is an important skill in life to have—not only THINKING interdependently, but also WORKING interdependently. Colleges want distinct, unique individuals that will add to the diversity on campus, the shared pool of craziness that are students. Workplaces want people who can cooperate and work (two brains, after all, are better than one) together for a shared goal. Group work is and will continue to be a staple in everything we do later on in life.



Figure 1: When we first started titration.. let's just say my my lab partner and I were both in need of the other's help.