Last month, Opinion columnist Carlos Lopez wrote an article claiming the University’s failure to create a more collaborative atmosphere prevents a truly safe, healthy and educational environment. Lopez raised some legitimate concerns pertaining to the negative effects competition can have on both the University as a whole and its individual students. However, despite mentioning that competition “will always be part of every educational environment,” his article does not recognize it as an inherent aspect of life itself. Furthermore, Lopez fails to acknowledge not only some important positive aspects of competition, but the dangers that could result from a loss of it as well.
Since the University is categorized by U.S. News & World Report rankings as being “most selective,” Lopez is certainly right on the point that many of the students who come here may have a hard time adjusting to the higher, more level playing field than they may have become accustomed to in high school. With this in mind, it seems unfair to place “most of the blame” of students’ loss of confidence and lack of a sense of direction on the University, because the pressure to achieve academic success could then be attributed to the fact that many successful applicants to this school may be used to being overachievers, and already especially competitive.
Moreover, the link Lopez used to show the University’s competitive nature discusses how it affects student involvement in extracurriculars, not academic performance. While it does seem that the competitive environment pertains in large part to student involvement, it could be problematic for the University to monitor competition among those clubs. Since many clubs are student-run, regulating their competitiveness (whether or not Lopez was necessarily suggesting it) would conflict with the University’s value of student self-governance.
Competition is not just a part of education, it is a part of life, and if college is meant to prepare us as best as possible, then monitoring it could result in the University less effectively fulfilling that purpose (especially given today’s tougher job market as compared to many years ago). Lopez suggests education is a “process” that competition hinders. I would argue competition can help that process by pushing someone to develop into his best and brightest self. It is true it is important for professors to ensure their curricula “foster the healthy atmosphere needed to truly meet their educational objectives.” But the idea that they should reevaluate their competitive grading systems in order to keep students from feeling pressure to come out on top seems to insinuate grade inflation for the sake of sensitivity. The reality is that grades need to be allocated evenly in order to maintain their worth. Yes, it may be harder to achieve the highest mark possible, but this is an inevitable reality of attending a college that is selective and aims to provide its students with the best education possible. Instead of viewing competition as “an aspect of student life that needs to be constantly monitored and regulated by the University faculty” through measures such as changing grading systems, the focus regarding competition should be on ensuring that students negatively affected by it are able to reap its positive benefits.
Most worrisome is the idea that “students should be constantly exposed to the notion that they are all bright in their own way and that their role inside the University goes beyond satisfying the requirements of their respective schools,” which could be seen as coddling and seems awfully similar to giving everyone an award. By pushing people to be their best, such as in how they contribute to the community, competition can inspire students to truly go beyond satisfying their schools’ requirements. Additionally, nonstop recognition not only fails to build true self-esteem (which results from achievement rather than vice versa), but could in fact have the reverse effect of encouraging students to underachieve as students convinced of their innate ability become demoralized upon their first encounter with difficulty. This would hardly result in truly confident, hard-working and determined graduates entering the workforce.
The University’s competitive environment (as perceived by those affected) can have negative consequences on many students. While the University can and should put in place programs (which Lopez did suggest) to ensure those negatively affected are able to cope, it is important to distinguish that intense competition is not an inherently negative thing that needs to be regulated or monitored in and of itself. Instead, it is the reactions to competition amongst those negatively affected by it that need to be helped, so they can confidently face difficulty and truly gain self-esteem, rather than the false confidence they would gain from constant positive regard. Competition is necessary to maintain an academically challenging environment so the University can serve its purpose. It pushes people and stretches their abilities to places they may have never imagined, and holding that back would be a disservice.
Alyssa Imam is an Opinion columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at a.imam@cavalierdaily.com.
Read More
PARTING SHOT: On the art of walking and chewing gum
By Nathan Onibudo | 23 hours agoStudent journalism, and maybe even life more generally, is about holding space for multiple conflicting truths.
PARTING SHOT: Confessions of a nepo baby
By Grace Thrush | YesterdayWhile I can’t point to one specific “aha” moment where I finally started to dispel my self-consciousness and claim my pride for the paper, I got there gradually over the course of my term as managing editor.
PARTING SHOT: Asked and answered
By Honor Wood | YesterdayLooking back, the answer has been abundantly clear all along. I did it for the people.
