What Is a Team?

The rest of this post is copied from ha's blog, and I can't agree more.

Last year, a group of unbelievably dedicated seniors took on the responsibility of managing and running an entire speech and debate team. They did a friggin' awesome job, and kept us together, didnt they? We learned, we conquered, we stayed together, we worked together, and we did it all with love.

But of course, those seniors graduated last year, and the whole team went into the hands of someone new (which was cool!).

Suddenly, it seemed as if everyone on the team had forgotten what they were in the first palce; a TEAM. People began doing exactly what the past seniors had constantly kept at bay, and prevented. Selfish goals were at hand now, people were backstabbing eachother, and nothing in the phrase "for the sake of team" seemed to ring a bell. We've all forgotten...and now, in a mere 6 weeks, we've managed to take down the very foundation of what yesterday's great leaders had tried to leave us.

Just a few weeks ago, a few enthusiastic debaters (myself included) had an argument with a few people over the definition of a team. It all boiled down to how a certain other club WASNT a true team, and how speech n debate functions better because we are. The message sent over and over was "a team is not just a group of individuals." The reason why the debate team was so strong last year was because we worked together like a family. And so we preached on about that for about another hour...

But then, just two weeks later, I find myself thinking, "We're turning ourselves INTO a group of individuals." And this...is not a team. What have we done to ourselves, guys?

Out of sheer frustration in an attempt to revive the soul of something lost, I've decided to post the following:

WHAT IS A TEAM?
A team is a group of individuals with a common goal never forgotten.
A team works together.
Team members will always listen to one another.
Team members always try to cheer up other team members when they're sad.
A team member will not let another team member fall, because...
The team falls to the level of its lowest member.
No one is neglected on a team.
Everyone shares equal responsibility on a team.
"We are an army of one."
A team member always shows respect for another team member.
"There is no 'I' in team."
A team will always support those in it.
Team members don't talk BAD about other team members.
Team members do NOT take advantage of other team members.
"UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL."
You are always part of this team.
The actions of one affect all on a team.
THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS HATE ON A TEAM.
A team is always there for you.
Personal problems have no place on a team.
Selfishness has no place on a team.
A team believes in what it strives for.
A team leaves NO ONE behind.
A team understands what a team is.

Please try to remember, you guys. We've all grown to love this team. At least, I have. And I could never forgive myself knowing that I was a part of this team, and I was a part of allowing it to fall...