News Pick
Healthy Competition vs. Self-Improvement in student life
Why striking the right balance between competing with peers and focusing on personal growth is important
In today’s world of social media and constant comparison, students often feel pressured to outperform their peers. While competition can be motivating, it can also become a source of stress and anxiety if it overshadows personal growth. The key lies in balancing healthy competition with a focus on self-improvement.
The Perils of Comparison
It’s easy for students to compare themselves with others, especially when achievements are visible online. Shivi Singh, an alumni of Apeejay School, Noida, emphasises the importance of looking inward rather than outward, “You are sitting at chapter 2 of your life and looking at somebody else’s chapter 10. Focus on yourself, your own growth, and try to get better each day.”
Her perspective highlights a crucial lesson: comparing oneself to others can be misleading because everyone is at a different stage in their journey.
Healthy Competition as a Growth Tool
Competition itself isn’t negative. It can foster discipline, resilience, and motivation when approached with the right mindset. The emphasis should be on improving relative to one’s own past performance rather than trying to ‘upstage’ peers. As Shivi notes, “Have healthy competition but don’t let it affect what you’re doing, do it for being better compared to who you were.”
This approach encourages students to set personal goals, celebrate small achievements, and view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than threats.
Focusing on Self-Improvement
Self-improvement requires reflection, consistency, and conscious effort. Even small daily improvements, like understanding a concept better, practicing a skill, or managing time effectively, compound over time, creating significant progress. The principle is simple: incremental growth beats constant comparison.
Creating a Supportive Environment
Teachers, parents, and peers play a vital role in reinforcing self-focused learning. Encouraging students to celebrate their progress, acknowledge efforts, and maintain mental wellness fosters a healthier approach to academics and extracurriculars.
Competition is natural, but self-improvement is sustainable. By focusing on personal growth and viewing challenges as opportunities, students can cultivate confidence, resilience, and a lifelong love for learning. As Shivi’s experience illustrates, doing your best for yourself, not to outshine others leads to greater fulfillment and achievement.
