Teamwork Loading…A Middle School TED Talk

Welcome, Player 1. 

You are now entering a new game:

Mindset… 

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Items… 

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Avatar… 

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Friendship… 

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Teamwork Error. Error?! Error what… for?! 

I’ve been playing this game for 13 years. 

Why now… error? 

Sure, I’ve lost some players along the way. I mean, I didn’t always have the same controller playing on the other side… but that shouldn’t impact teamwork. That’s what happens when you expect the same success in life. You understand the game… until you change chapters. New characters are introduced, there’s more dialogue, bigger obstacles, and you find yourself stuck in a point of view from when the game first started.

Who’s ever played Roblox before? I play Roblox, and for those who have played online games before, you know what it feels like to see that fresh loading screen. 

Let’s imagine that screen. 

Okay, done? 

Whoa we just got a notification… Player 2 has joined! 

Yay! I can’t wait. 

If you can’t tell, I play with them a lot. We never lose together. We’re always right next to each other, and when we split? Ha… funny we never will. We’re just too good to stop the flow. We complete obstacles together, make jokes about the NPCs, and finish challenges in under a minute. One time, we got so good that we created a team. All of us were so in sync.

But that was beginner level. Now… I’m in a way more advanced stage. We all are. It’s called the life of a busy teenager at M.D. Roberts School of the Arts. And when I tell you this chapter is busy… It’s BUSY. Not just the school quest that’s about to take me out… but what’s really about to make me quit… are these new players. Do y’all get it? I’m on level 7, and we haven’t even hit the final stage yet… and it’s March. The team keeps yelling and falling behind. When I look around and see other teams smiling, encouraging each other… instead of this… that’s probably why my teamwork won’t load.

Because teamwork isn’t just in one person. It’s within the group, the players. If one player doesn’t understand the game, you help them. You teach them how to play… even if you’re still learning too. Because as a team, that’s the only way you grow, is by learning together. Yes, it may not be the same. Some players are more advanced than others. Obstacles and bosses take more time to complete. The jokes? There’s still laughter. But what really matters, what seals the deal, is the respect and kindness you have for each other. No matter what level. No matter what your avatar looks like. Y’all know the saying: “Life is a game, so play it.” Remember this: you don’t have to agree… but you do have to decide. So choose the right quest. 

Teamwork… in progress.

And maybe… just maybe… the reason teamwork hasn’t loaded yet is because we’re still learning how to play together. So the next time your team feels like it’s lagging don’t quit the game. Upgrade how you play. Support your teammates. Communicate. Be patient. Because winning teams don’t just happen… they are built, on purpose, with purpose.

Throughout history, there have been winning teams and there have been losing teams. But what made the winning teams different? They had a shared purpose. They had a vision. They had strong leadership. They trusted each other. And they appreciated each other, even in their differences.

So let me ask you something… would you rather be on a winning team… or a losing team? Yeah… that’s what I thought. A winning team.

So let’s pick up our controllers. Let’s be kind. Let’s be positive. Let’s encourage each other. Let’s trust each other. And let’s aim for the same goal: to make M.D. Roberts School of the Arts the best middle school ever… to be a winning team… and win in the end.

And when we do that… that “Teamwork Error” message? It disappears… and is replaced with something even better: 

Teamwork… 

Successfully Loaded. 

Thank you.

This Middle School TED Talk was presented by De’Asyia O at M.D. Roberts School of the Arts in 2026.