We are living in a time in which equality is valued above individuality, the level of performance, and overall skill. While I do think equality is important-- and not just in most situations-- I feel as if we are beating it to death. There are meant to be people who excel in certain things and lack skill in other areas. There is meant to be a winner and a loser. And when one truly has an outstanding performance in a sports game, academic year, concert, or other substantial and significant event, they should be awarded. But those individuals and only those individuals should be awarded.

Adults understand the concept of an outstanding individual receiving an award because we have been taught that not everyone can be as good as the other. We understand that not being the best doesn't lessen our worth as a human, and not being the best isn't the end of the world. But now, children are being coddled to a point where they expect a trophy or an award just for participating.

America's adults are literally promoting laziness and entitlement in their children. The desire to make every child feel as if they are the same, and have been rewarded the same, is creating a complacent and downright terrible mindset in today's youth.

Today everyone wants what's best for everyone. This humanitarian concept sounds perfect, but we don't live in a perfect world. Someone will always get the shorter end of the stick and someone's feelings are always going to end up hurt. That's life.

We need to learn how to be tough again. To reinstate the strong and hardworking mindset of America's past and improve it. And there is a specific place where that needs to start -- no more trophies or awards for every single child. It is a ridiculous notion that is downright unrealistic and will only set children up for failure.

While I won't go into detail regarding scientific research, I will note that professionals are very against the idea of participation trophies. Here in an excerpt from an article I found on Mercurynews.com:

"Ashley Merryman, author of 'Top Dog: The Science of Winning and Losing,' said handing out trophies undermines kids' success. 'The benefit of competition isn't actually winning,' she told USA Today. 'The benefit is improving. When you're constantly giving a kid a trophy for everything they're doing, you're saying, 'I don't care about improvement. I don't care that you're learning from your mistakes. All we expect is that you're always a winner.' '"

It is time to stop celebrating everyone and everything, and it is time to make America tough again. Reinstate the idea that hard work and success should be rewarded, and not everyone deserves a trophy.