It's been an exciting couple of weeks, witnessing the Woods Wolves break records and move onto state-level competition. The Women's Cross Country team took it all the way to the State Championships this year and came in lucky 13th. Men's Soccer have exceeded expectations with two comfortable wins in the state playoffs. Where and how will it end?
All this buzz has the high school energized over competition and, from what I've seen, healthy competition. Meaning, I can see the positive effects these recent achievements are having on individual players, the teams as a whole, and on the school community. It's quite contagious. Do we need to be the best? No. Do we want to win? Yes, of course. It feels really good to know that our teams have strived for the top and done so well.
All this buzz has the high school energized over competition and, from what I've seen, healthy competition. Meaning, I can see the positive effects these recent achievements are having on individual players, the teams as a whole, and on the school community. It's quite contagious. Do we need to be the best? No. Do we want to win? Yes, of course. It feels really good to know that our teams have strived for the top and done so well.
It's interesting to think about the nature of competition in all its forms and reflect on how this can be a positive force. Competition happens at many levels with athletics, but I'd like to think about how, as individuals, we also are impacted by the innate spirit of competition. Take this unlikely lot, for example, who competed last week for the best Halloween costumes. Taco Bell sauce packet anyone? Only at Woods.
It's not just for those sports-crazy fans out there, but we can find the spirit of competition in many areas of our lives. How about debate or music, Yearbook or Prom? What gets you energized so that you are inspired to do your absolute best? Don't you secretly want to get the most community service hours or read the most books this year? Didn't we collect more cans in our last CORA food drive than a not-to-be-named nearby public high school three times our size?
I say healthy competition because not all competition is that way. Want to be the thinnest? Need to have the most friends? Determined to be the craziest at the party? Must be the best or you feel worthless? No, not all competitive feelings are to be nurtured, but I do believe everyone can find some avenue for improvement which can be ignited through competition. In many ways, healthy competition takes you outside of your own boundaries into new territory. It's the possible - that which has not yet been determined - that drives us forward.
In a couple of weeks I run my very first 5k race Into The Woods. I would have never imagined five years ago that I would a) be running or b) have any desire to enter a race. However, that is the position I find myself in. I have allowed myself to be positively influenced by my peers and developed a healthy habit. I now run for myself, as a way to feel good and stay healthy, and I can say that being "in training" is quite a motivating factor.
If it's honor roll that motivates you, go for it. If it's creating the most inspiring work of art, do it. Whatever kicks in that spirit of healthy competition for you, then nurture that and see where it leads. You might just surprise yourself and everyone else around you.
It's not just for those sports-crazy fans out there, but we can find the spirit of competition in many areas of our lives. How about debate or music, Yearbook or Prom? What gets you energized so that you are inspired to do your absolute best? Don't you secretly want to get the most community service hours or read the most books this year? Didn't we collect more cans in our last CORA food drive than a not-to-be-named nearby public high school three times our size?
I say healthy competition because not all competition is that way. Want to be the thinnest? Need to have the most friends? Determined to be the craziest at the party? Must be the best or you feel worthless? No, not all competitive feelings are to be nurtured, but I do believe everyone can find some avenue for improvement which can be ignited through competition. In many ways, healthy competition takes you outside of your own boundaries into new territory. It's the possible - that which has not yet been determined - that drives us forward.
In a couple of weeks I run my very first 5k race Into The Woods. I would have never imagined five years ago that I would a) be running or b) have any desire to enter a race. However, that is the position I find myself in. I have allowed myself to be positively influenced by my peers and developed a healthy habit. I now run for myself, as a way to feel good and stay healthy, and I can say that being "in training" is quite a motivating factor.
If it's honor roll that motivates you, go for it. If it's creating the most inspiring work of art, do it. Whatever kicks in that spirit of healthy competition for you, then nurture that and see where it leads. You might just surprise yourself and everyone else around you.