Hannah Greene  | Sports Editor

Currently, we are raising our children to have unrealistic expectations in life, that in turn, do not help our society grow or prosper. 

Growing up, trophies or ribbons were never given to anybody who got lower than third. Each team had to earn every part of that first place trophy, and if you failed you went to practice and worked harder than before to get there next year. Though sad, it taught me about failure, an experience and feeling we should all experience at some point in our lives, multiple times. In soccer, I learned that there will always be someone better, faster and stronger — but to never lose sight of what I was capable of or what I brought to the team. This allowed me to continue to grow as a player and realize where I belonged on the team — while also giving me hands on experience that I could translate into the “real world.”

My dad was very humbling. When I started track and field, ribbons were given out to every place up to eighth. Anytime I got one that was below third place with no personal best time, my dad would throw it away. I understood what this meant and it only enhanced the idea that I had to work for and earn that first place ribbon.

When we watch the Olympics, there is no fourth — if you didn’t get gold, silver or bronze, you didn’t do good enough. In the World Cup, there is no second place, there is only one World Cup trophy, for first place. 

By giving multiple trophies out we are teaching our future generations that they do not have to work hard or put in the time for something great — that they are deserving of something just because they wanted it and participated in it. We are teaching a behavior to children that will not get them far in life — a behavior that society accepted when they were children, but won’t when they are young adults. So why do we give out unnecessary nonsense? To make everyone feel included, like they have achieved something. In many eyes of parents this is a good thing, something that should be done everywhere. And thanks to these parents, it is everywhere. 

But, according to Dan Gould, a sports psychologist, “For rewards to work, they need to be earned” not handed out like a free-for-all. In life we will experience loss, watch someone else get what we wanted and know failure — and if we don’t when we’re young then we will be incapable of overcoming defeat in our futures.

Contact the author at hgreene18@wou.edu