Competition

Last week I traveled to the capitol for a student competition. I took 4 students and was hopeful that we would have a little better showing than when I took the students last year (last year included an arrest and securing bail money, a not soon to be forgotten incident). We went to the same testing facility where we had been before and encountered some of the same snootiness as the previous year. This was at a technical high school that does nothing but technical courses and it is basically a shrine to the organization that sponsored the contest (that's right geeks with calculators playing dragon/fantasy video games and spouting computer jargon). The previous year's winner was once again competing and was also a state officer for the organization. I was a little apprehensive for the students, but also knew that several of them were quite talented. There were some inequities again this year, but overall I was really pleased with the student's work and felt like they had given a good showing.
The awards were to be presented that evening at a ceremony in front of all the students competing (1000+ students) and families and friends. As they called a category, such as: culinary arts, all students who had competed would go up on stage and onto risers so that everyone could see who competed. They would then call the names of the bronze, silver and gold winners who would then step down receive their medal and go and stand on three podiums of varying heights. Yes, like the Olympics.
One of the judges called me in the afternoon asking for the competitor number for one of my students. I immediately flashed back to last year and thought, "Great, what now?" I told him the number and he said "Oh good, he did really well, he just forgot to put his number on his entry. In fact he took first place." I was thrilled! Not just for him, but because it would also show the uppity tech geeks that they didn't have a corner on the competition. Yeah, I know I'm kind of petty eh?
Anyway, the winning student wasn't planning to go to the awards ceremony. As it was Easter weekend he had gone the previous evening to mass, and was planning to go again that night. I told our adviser that he had won (I had to tell someone!) and that he wasn't planning on going. She said "Oh, you HAVE to tell him he's winning an award. I'm sure he'll want to go." So, later I pulled him aside and told him he was winning an award (didn't tell him which one) and asked if he wanted to attend the ceremony. He was skeptical at first. "I won an award?!?" and when I assured him he had, his response was, "Do I HAVE to go?" I assured him that no, he didn't HAVE to go. He replied "If I won anything it was because of His help, and I would be really ungrateful if I didn't show my love and respect for him. So if it's ok with you I'll go to mass." So, yeah, I felt a bit like Satan trying to lead the innocent astray. I told him how proud I was of him for his reverence for God and that of course he didn't need to go. Then later as the awards were called and the haughty state officer and first place winner of the year before got the second place award and the gold medal podium was left empty I reflected on who the real winners in life are.
Last night I went to the local Junior Miss competition to see my friends daughter compete. I always have mixed feeling about those pageant types of things. This one is a little better than some as it doesn't involve swimsuits and has an emphasis on education in addition to talent and athletic skills. I have seen a few of them in the past couple of years and am amazed and the nerve it must take for some of those girls to get up and do what they do. Last night was no exception. One girl was so obviously terrified, she looked like she was going in front of the firing squad. Most of the rest of them seemed to find it pretty fun, though there were some obvious nervous moments. My friend's daughter did really well in all the categories and seemed to enjoy the whole thing. She didn't end up winning any prizes - though I was SURE she was going to get the physical fitness award as she had gone through the 5 minute routine without breaking a sweat, losing her smile or even getting out of breath. I know a girl who did this same contest several years ago who was SO painfully shy and awkward that I couldn't believe she was even going to attempt it. It was a life changing event for her. She gained a sense of confidence and came out of her shell and has never returned. So, in spite of the fact that I personally wouldn't ever participate in something like that (not that anyone is beating down my door begging me to participate in the 5o year old's version, if there was such a thing), but I can see that there could be some good that might come from it. I also have seen what happens with some of the girls who are shattered and cry for days afterwards. I guess it's like anything - it's how you look at it. The old is the glass half empty or half full thing eh?
Along those lines, Miste has the link on her blog for the Susan Boyle contestant from Britain's got talent that once again made me think of all the different types of winning there are. If you haven't checked it out you should it gave me goose bumps and made me all teary...Click here to see it.