Rewind to freshman year, spring semester. My best friend was nominated as the Freshman Distinguished Student Leader, so I accompanied her to the ceremony to support her and cheer her on. I was involved on campus, but as a freshman I knew I wasn't as involved as her. The ceremony went through several awards, and as it continued, I felt empowered. I was surrounded by incredible campus leaders who spent their time making the campus around them a better place. They were doing what they loved and were the most deserving individuals for the awards received. I was used to attending award ceremonies with the expectations of receiving something, only to usually end in disappointment. Going in with no expectations, I felt genuinely happy for all the leaders around me that were recognized.

Fast forward to this spring, when I was the one on the nomination list and in line to possibly receive the award. I couldn't help but hope to have my name called to be recognized for my hard work. Attending the same exact ceremony one year later with the roles completely different was a shock. As I was getting dressed, I had to remember the feelings I had last year: zero expectations and incredible happiness. I had to remember the freshman I once was, who pushed to be the best leader I could possibly be. I had to think of the freshman in the audience who had hopes to be in these places someday, but never expected to be a winner.

College seems to be a never-ending list of award ceremonies—the one reason to finally shave and to put on a dress rather than sweatpants. As college students we are asked to nominate individuals who we feel deserve certain awards and fulfill the criteria. We sit and contemplate each section, checking off the qualities like a To-Do list. I have witnessed, and am equally guilty of, people asking each other, "Hey, do you want to be nominated for this award?" rather than willingly recognizing that deserving individual. If we aren't nominated for something, we become bitter and jealous of the people who are, wondering, why are they so special?

Why are we so obsessed with winning? Why are we consumed with the desire to be recognized by hundreds? Isn't it just as special for an individual to be genuinely told they are doing a fantastic job? Yes, it is highly important to be recognized, but we don't need a plaque to tell us so. By expecting a constant reward for our efforts we lose sight of the real reason why we started. We lose sight of what really matters.

It takes an immense amount of effort to focus your efforts on being recognized. It is distracting, and can make you choose to do things for the wrong reasons. Don't we all know at least one individual that receives all of the awards, but we question why they received it? They focus all their efforts on the external awards. And while they receive them because they did exactly what the reward calls for, they go about it the wrong way. This can be detrimental to relationships and career opportunities because they are now known for only looking at the prize at the end. Rather than focusing your efforts on receiving external recognition, focus on achieving your own personal satisfaction. You will make leaps and bounds in leadership, and learn from experience. That is when you will truly thrive.

In the end I won. I received two highly reputable awards, but it was such a shock that I couldn't help but cry. And then I didn't win. But the individual that won deserved it much more than I had. Each ceremony, I went in with the mindset that there is somebody much more deserving than me, and I did the best I could. Zero expectations. That's what makes being recognized that much sweeter and more rewarding. Albert Einstein put it best, stating, "Strive not be a success, but rather to be of value.”