We’re not conscious about it enough, but it’s everywhere. The whispers in the hallways and silent acknowledgements when test grades are handed back. Challenging yourself to reach for the highest can fuel motivation, constant academic rivalries can put huge tolls on confidence, self-esteem and anxiety.
Optimistically speaking, competition can be a spark for growth. According to the Institute of Competition Sciences, it can be the catalyst for teamwork, growth, exploration and motivation. Academic comparison can be positive and constructive when it inspires students to learn from others and improve themselves through motivation and perseverance. At the end of the day however, ambition doesn’t pose any problem; it’s when competition surpasses limits where the downturn starts to appear.
The darker side of academic competition comes when students start linking the letters on their report cards to self-worth. According to the Center for Communication, many students associate their academic achievement to the way they view themselves. In addition, it is proven that during final exams, negative self esteem and self-talk can be huge and lead to significant consequences, such as depression and anxiety. Even the smallest contrast in grades can be associated with being a whole level beneath others, and the difference between an A- and an A starts to define identity. In this comparative environment, learning and personal growth start to shift from a positive process to a desperate chase to prove yourself.
This fixed vision on grades may then expand beyond just an academic perspective. Academic influences from external forces may set the stage for additional mental and psychological effects as well. Through these lenses, the simple event of receiving a lower grade than hoped can take tolls on motivation, leading to more catastrophic effects. Undoubtedly, this pressure can consequently lead to burnout and self-doubt. According to Mental H2O Inc., competitive school environments have the potential of leading to increased levels of stress and anxiety. These high levels of pressure can then hinder students’ ability to concentrate, therefore reducing their performance and catalyzing a sense of helplessness. Instead of celebrating and striving for personal growth and collaboration, students may become guarded around these barriers with a fear of falling behind. The joy of learning gives way to the fear of failure, and it’s creating a loss for everyone.
Considering the effects, it would be worthwhile for students to rethink the way we approach this repetitive lifestyle of grades. Understandably, societal factors in the outside world naturally make students want to strive to reach for the top as an individual, but sometimes it can also be beneficial to think about this from a collaborative and independent perspective.
Success should be about resilience, perseverance, asking for help and personal growth. The point about living in a world with others is to enlighten collaboration and build success as a community. Schools should encourage teamwork and foster a positive and transparent environment and students should build off of this by cheering for each other’s breakthroughs rather than silently comparing scores in hopes of personal validation. Simply recognizing effort, improvement and small steps toward personal goals can shift academic culture towards something more humane and reassuring.
