I understand people work hard. I understand that people want to get recognized. I understand that people feel like their blood, sweat and tears should given an award.

But when does it go to far?

We live in a world today where we feel everyone should be given equal praise, equal treatment and given the exact same reward.

I know I am only 20 years old, but even back in my day, participation trophies were not a thing. I can remember back to the days of little league, South Mission Viejo Little League down in the gully across from Mission Viejo Lake. The spring seasons were hot, but hold some of my most fond memories.

I would spend every Saturday at the fields. I went early in the morning to watch my friends play, and while waiting in line to get my hands on savory cheeseburger and an ice cold slush puppy, I would check out the latest standings. Every Saturday, they would update the standing with every game. At my age, these standings meant everything to me. I lived for those standings. I lived for the competitive adrenaline those standings left boiling in my stomach. I knew whatever team was at the top of those standing at the end of the spring would be given a two-foot-tall trophy to put on their desk at home.

Every kid wanted to be number one, every team practiced with a purpose and all the blood sweat and tears that were shed were for that trophy and right to say your team was the best. Nowadays, no matter how much effort a team puts towards there success or how well a team actually plays does not even matter. You could be the team that wins all the games in a season, or the team that loses all the games in a season. And you know what? Both teams would get the exact same reward. A nice little trophy for trying your best.

Yoda puts it best: "Do or do not, there is no try."

Kids these days need to learn what it is like to fail, so they know what it feels like to succeed. Failure is a part of life. No one on this planet has never failed, but if you happen to be that person well good for you anything I have to say won't affect you in any way, shape or form. But to all of you who like me have failed more than their fair share of times you like me I assume know the benefits of learning from your failures.

Giving every a kid a participation trophy is as beneficial as running into oncoming traffic. Kids need to know the feeling of competition as it is a primal instinct. Survival of the fittest is the reason humans have come so far in this world, but now we seem to be devolving.

Success is never guaranteed. Success is earned.

We, as a people, need to take action and fight this infectious disease. We can't stand around any longer. I can't imagine a world where my future kids are guaranteed false success. How will they know what true success is? How will they know how to compete in the real world? What memories will they have of their childhood?