By Megan Maharry
Sports Editor
I can never remember not competing.
Growing up, I competed in every sport possible. I gained a lot of valuable experiences playing sports, being a part of a team and competing.
Competition is something that is important for people to experience.
Competition helps people make progress. If everything in life was fair or easy, people would have no reason to be their best.
The concept of winning or achieving something motivates people to do their best work.
Introducing competition to kids is important. The idea of “everyone gets a trophy” does not always have the positive effect people may think.
There are people, especially parents when it comes to their children, who believe everyone should win a trophy just for participating. There is the issue that competition puts pressure on kids as well as the fear of failure and disappointment.
Of course we don’t want to make kids who may not compete at the same level as other feel bad about themselves; however, by not recognizing those kids who are above the level of others, they receive no reward for their hard work.
Competition builds self-esteem and confidence. These are important characteristics to have throughout your life.
By competing in sports, for example, healthy competition is beneficial for athletes. Young athletes learn the value of being a teammate and working with their fellow teammates as well as a strong work ethic.
If the score did not matter in sports and there is not a winner, the value players take away from the game lessens. When athletes know a win is at stake, it drives them to play their best and outwork the other team.
The win itself is the reward for all the work and practice the athlete has put in.
Taking away that victory and tearing it down to a participation reward has no beneficial gain for the athletes.
It often seems people are afraid of competition, as they are afraid of not being good enough or failing. Instead of looking at competition as a cut-throat idea, look at it as a way to better yourself.
Rather than worrying about winning, first worry about working your hardest and doing your best.
Then when you compete, whether you win or lose, you will learn what you need to work on to become better competition.
In an article on Leaderonomics, it said healthy competition is good for all.
Dealing with wins and losses in any competitive arena is like getting an immunity shot against disease.
If we belittle the importance of competition, is does not set a good example for our youth.
In the real world, not everyone wins a prize, so why do we put such an emphasis on everyone is a winner?
Healthy competition is a crucial element in everyone’s life.