HOW COMPETITION LEAVES STUDENTS LAST

What does competition do to a student? While competition can be favorable in many ways, competition also has its fair share of downsides, as well. Competition is very rampant in schools and can end up leaving a negative impression on students. Competition can be found in nearly every aspect of schools. Whether it be in sports, class competitions, or state competitions, like the science fair or the Tropicana Speech, competition is a huge component of the education system. By definition, competition means that there will be at least one winner and one loser, with little room in between. As not every student can come out on top in a competition, this aspect of schooling can lead kids to envy winners and to dismiss losers, and ultimately has a negative effect on students.

Sports competitions, for example, can leave a negative impact on student-athletes, as people are expected to achieve more than they are capable of.

Another set of competitions are those that are run by the state or the country, such as spelling bees, science fairs, and debate tournaments. These competitions are unique in that they are large-scale, incorporating hundreds or thousands of students. And while it may be worth all of the hard work and effort you poured into the science fair to get a reward or a ribbon, these competitions could end up being detrimental to your well being. Making sure that everything is turned in on time, checking to see if there are any mistakes, and actually qualifying for the competition can end up being an arduous process. Once you qualify, you will move on to your state's science fair competition, and many have said how nervous and scared they were for what the outcome might be, as there is no guarantee that they will end up making back the time and effort they poured into their project. Participating in competitions at such an early age can end up leaving a negative impression on younger kids, making them think that they always have to be perfect or always have to win. In life, winning is not always the ultimate goal. Putting pressure on students to succeed over their limit can be very damaging and draining.

Competition can easily lead to stress and anxiety, especially when academic competition is promoted and encouraged in the classroom. Competition can be negative when it leads to an unbalanced life or forces students to give up other interests in extracurricular activities, just to focus solely on academic challenges. If a competition does not provide students with a goal that is attainable for everyone, then the activity becomes unbalanced, with some succeeding greatly while others struggle.

Competition engenders inequality, low self-esteem, and an unhealthy fixation on victory for students. Students should feel that their purpose in school is to learn, not to win victories over their classmates. The competitive aspect of the education system, which is present in nearly every angle of school life, is damaging for students and promotes damaging ideals.