An Open Letter To Peer Competition | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

An Open Letter To Peer Competition

I refuse to compete against you.

142
An Open Letter To Peer Competition
Mr. Wheat

So, please, don’t expect me to. Don’t expect me to wake up and have competition with another person my goal for the day. I’m not here for competition against you. I’m here to do the best I can do. I’m here to work at making myself the greatest that I can be, in whatever I decide to do. Far too often in life we get swept away with others and what they are doing, that we forget to focus on ourselves and what we are doing. It’s not a race to the finish line. Life is not a competition.

Yes, competition can be motivational. It can help. Yet, people lose themselves in competition and forget that their life and their happiness are not a part of a race on who can graduate first, or who gets married first. It’s not about who buys the better car or who has the most expensive shoes. Life isn’t about how many friends you have or who you’ve dated. Life isn’t about looking at your peer and thinking “I’m going to kick their ass at life!”

That kind of thinking makes life messy. It makes life stressful. It makes life hurt.

No… Instead of expecting me to compete against you, know that I am rooting for you. I might not be vocal about it, because I’m busy doing my own thing, but I am wishing you the best. I’m hoping that you are able to accomplish the things that you set out to do. I want you to win. I want us all to win at life, if that’s even possible. Do things you love. Enjoy the people you love. Learn. Grow. Set out and do the things that you want to do because they make you happy, not because you are trying to beat someone to the punch. Take your time or go as fast as you like. Each new adventure you decided to do, do it the way you want to and don’t worry so much about what other people are doing or not doing. This will be hard, but so is life. But we’ve made it this far, so I know we can make it further.

I leave you with words from Franklin D. Roosevelt. “Competition has been shown to be useful up to a certain point and no further, but cooperation, which is the thing we must strive for today, begins where competition leaves off.”

Have a wonderful day, friends. Go kick life’s ass.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Student Life

11 College Misconceptions Every Incoming Freshman Needs To Know

Think of everything that you've heard about college... and completely forget it.

287
Helen Horton and friends
Helen Horton

College is a crazy, beautiful, amazing whirlwind. It is highly popularized in television and movies, but not necessarily in the most accurate way. Yes, there's frats, dingy dorms, raging house parties—but there's also a lot that people fail to mention.

1. If you thought that you knew how to study, you're wrong.

All of your classes aren't taught every day, so professors aren't on your case constantly about reading and memorizing material. Once you get back that "questionable" first exam grade, you'll kick it into high gear and figure out what works for you

Keep Reading...Show less
woman in black turtleneck shirt smiling beside woman in black shirt

Your mom: you can't live with her, but you can't live without her. You love your mom, but she is insanely predictable. Here is a list of things your mom has probably done.

Keep Reading...Show less
Girl With Bleached Hair
Tumblr

I've been a bleach blonde for over a year now, and let me tell you, it is a lifestyle. More hair appointments, longer showers, and special shampoo. But it is totally worth it!

1. Mentally preparing yourself to convince your hair dresser that white is the way to go.

2. Or the anxiety of what could go wrong by bleaching your hair at home.

3. You could either become a ginger

4. Or a pixie

5. The face you make in the mirror when you take off your towel to unveil the perfect white strands.

6. Taking a million selfies the day you bleached it, because you know your roots will be back in literally 2 days.

7. Having to get bangs or a big chop because your hair is so damaged.

8. Having orange highlights in between touch-ups.

9. Going out for a drink afterwards to debut your updated look.

Despite the struggles, you love your platinum blonde hair! You make sure Instagram knows it, too. You don't need a filter, because the color is flawless by itself!

Parks and Recreation
The Playlist

Finals: just thinking about them gives you anxiety. Only two weeks separate you from summer, but they're the longest of the semester. There's a familiarity to this season, now that you have had so many testing cycles under your belt. But that doesn't quell the ever present stress to pass your finals and your classes. Even better, as a package deal during these wonderful weeks, you get to wake up early to study and you get to take exams that can begin anytime from 7 A.M. to 7 P.M. Now that we have established that this week is not fun, here are some super relatable moments that punctuate finals week.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl partying
HeyMIkeyATL

I've been at this college thing for almost three and a half years, and while I thought that high school was truly the lowest point of my existence, I'm beginning to realize that it was a walk in the park. Like, I miss the days when the biggest white lie I told my parents was my made up excuse about being late for fourth period. These days, the white lies are a tad more complex, and as ashamed as I am to admit it, I've definitely told a few of these.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments