competition

As the exams draw to a close, the pending results worry us. Thoughts like: did i do better this time? Did i beat so-and-so in this subject? Did i pass? Did i do well? They start harbouring in our minds. Even after we get back our papers, we still be thinking along the same lines: why didn't i get my 7 points? Why did i have to make that careless mistake and lose to so-and-so by one mark? Why didn't they moderate the results?

Have you ever wondered what is the basis of such thoughts? It's competition.

Regardless of whether its beating others or beating ourselves, we basically harbour such thoughts because we want to compete, and emerge vctorious, or at least better than the other(s). We want to be on top of the academic society, where the 'lack of natural resources' occur due to the overpopulation of brains, and 'natural selection' is based on the results distribution curve. In this society, intelligence is crucial - it is the essence of survival. Thus, being competitive is almost natural.

It seems natural; but is it right? By competing, we push our peers aside and better ourselves at their sake. We then draw our confidence from our success; while others dwell in their failure. At the same time, the competition stirs each of us onward. But, there are still others who fall behind, discouraged by competition. Can you imagine if one day, all your peers have lost the spirit of competition and backed out, leaving you alone in the race? Wouldn't you feel no need to run it anymore? Where's the competition, you might ask. Sensing that the race seems futile, you back out too.

What does this boil down to? Do we do everything for the sake of competing? Will we still run the race even when there are no competitors?

All christians and religious people out there would know the answer to this: we run the race for our god(s). But admit it; it's very difficult to stem the natural instinct of competition that leads us to run the race for ourselves. Well, at least we're trying to be altruistic, running the race with others instead of against others.

However, we must be wary of this competitive instinct; especially at this point of time after exams. Don't let your good results get the better of you.

May God help us.