Last place is certainly not where anyone wants to be in a competition. It's definitely not a place that I liked to be in. I show pigs at my county fair through 4-H, and one of the first years that I showed I came in last place. I came into the showing ring on time, I was dressed well, and made plenty of eye contact with the judge. I had a little difficulty with my pig in the show ring because this was the first time I had ever done this. After a short time, the judge comes up to me and says, "Can you pen your pig?" At first, I was a little confused.
Earlier that year I learned from older kids in my 4-H group that sometimes the judge will ask you about your project. Sometimes they ask about what you feed your pig, the breed of your pig, or about your show stick that you use in the show ring. Since I knew that I could be asked any of those questions I prepared answers to all of them, and I was ready to spew the information to the judge when they asked me. When the judge asked a question I wasn't prepared for I grew nervous. From watching the older kids show earlier that morning I understood that when you're the first person asked to "pen your pig" it means you came in the last place.
Although I was a bit discouraged, I did what the judge asked me to do. Once I was in the pen connected to the show ring with my pig I continued to smile at the judge. You're never done showing until you leave the ring. I continued to watch the other kids show until a winner was chosen from my age division. I took my pink ribbon and took my pig back to its own pen. Then came the flood of encouraging comments from my mom.
My mom always does a great job at keeping me going. Although I sat down and cried, I was advised that it wasn't the best thing to do. My mom reminded me that I had tried my hardest and truly did my best. Only years after this did I really come to terms with what it means to be in last place.
Now I realize that last place isn't really that bad. On that one day when you were against several other talented people you were the person who least fit the criteria that the judge was looking for. This doesn't make you any less of a person, and it certainly doesn't make you bad at what you do. This instance was one person's opinion of your skills. The criticism can help you grow to become better next time you compete but shouldn't discourage you from continuing.
In every competition ultimately someone has to be in last place. Even if you're the one who crossed the finish line last, you still finished and succeeded. Last place is certainly not a place to give up. Last place is an opportunity to learn from others. If you don't take the opportunity to learn, you're not going to improve. In reality 'losing' a competition isn't really important. What is important is your ability to push on and better yourself. Keep doing what you love, succeeding, and enjoy yourself.
