We work throughout high school to make perfect grades in order to be accepted into the college of our dreams. In college, we work to be involved, create social connections, and to score the career that we dreamed about since we were young. Within the workplace, we strive to constantly increase our skills and repertoire as an employee in order to compete with the increasingly crowded workforce.
Competition. It drives our economy, our political system, and even our personal motives. We constantly try to outdo or one-up our neighbor, best friend, or even family member. With this type of mindset, where does the road end? When does the drive to be successful become too much?
As someone who has confronted and struggled with competition, I can tell you that receiving Most Valuable Player, Employee of the Month, or even a Nobel Prize does not satisfy the necessary satisfaction we as humans are meant to experience. Awards and recognitions are moments that are to be sought after, but not lived for. The temporary satisfaction that awards and success brings does not endure and can sometimes leave people feeling in such a way that they rely upon these moments as a confirmation of their self-worth. This latter feeling is a place where I have personally been.
I will never forget the day: freshman year of high school, I was told that I was ranked first in my class based on my GPA. From that moment on, there was a hunger within me to graduate Valedictorian. I studied and studied, taking a total of six AP classes during my time as a high school student. I dreamed about the day when I could walk across the stage and be named number one. As far as my social life, I was involved in sports, but again, there was no relaxing. I was preoccupied with training to be the greatest. But I was never the best at the sports I played, and I ended up graduating Salutatorian in spite of my efforts. My value as a person became dependent upon getting an “A” on every assignment, making a goal for my team every soccer match, or making every field goal I kicked. The accomplishments I had completed only made me desire more; the “high” of winning became the only satisfaction I received. The joy of everyday life was absent.
Reflecting back upon recent years, I regret the time spent searching for success instead of spending it with the ones I love. I regret the nonexistent friendships and relationships that could have been made. But graduating Salutatorian was a wakeup call for me: I am not perfect, nor will I ever be perfect. I can try to be the best, but what will I have to sacrifice to get there?
Honestly, I still wrestle will the desire to be great. I think we all want to leave a legacy and be remembered. But I now realize that life is too short: I don’t want to miss the amazing people or beautiful world that God has placed around me. True contentment does not come from success or the praise of others. True satisfaction is only achieved through the relationships we possess and the memories that we create. You and I are worth so much more than a grade or piece of metal. As Albert Einstein so brilliantly stated, “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”
