Sportsmanship in Education

Hey all. In this article, I will just tell you how we should view education as well as some of my personal experiences while studying.

Sportsmanship, as to what Merriam Webster defined it, is a conduct. Such as fairness, respect for the opponent and the graciousness in winning or losing. Competitions in school can be really tough. May it be the students themselves, and sometimes, their parents also.

There are just those types of student who always want to be on top, and I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, it's actually a good thing, to strive for more but it became so bad when we let this eagerness eat us up. When we can't accept it when someone did better than us.

Primary Days

I was never the studious type of student but honestly, I'm kind of competitive during my elementary days. Well, not the competitive type wherein I see my classmates as an opponent. Maybe it's more like the literal competition like MTAP, journalism, essay writing, and all those contests that you could imagine.

Aside from that, I used to be a top student and it may be the reason why it became natural for the people around me to expect me to be on top every time. And that's where the pressure build up. That's when I started to have the thinking that I should be on top because that's what is expected from me, and in that way, I can make my family proud.

I enjoyed my childhood days when I was in elementary but I guess, if there's one wrong thing that I did back then, it is the fact that I live based on the expectation of the people around me.

Junior High School

They say High School life is the best part of a student's life. It's where you can break free and just do every craziness that came to your mind together with your classmates.

I entered Junior High School and the pressure is still on. We live in a small town with only 11 Barangays and since we're already on High School, almost all of the students from different elementary schools enrolled on the same school as me since there's only limited number of high schools in our town.

I took an entrance exam to be part of the Star section back then and luckily, I passed. And here comes the real competition for every top students from different schools are gathered in one class. All seems to be used to be on top and no one wants to back down.

At the end of my 7th grade, I landed on top 9. Way lower than what is expected of me. So I was sad. 8th grade came, I was an awardee but not on top, I failed them again. 9th grade came and that's the happiest year of high school life.

I did break free. I was not on top and it's okay. Because that's when I realized that I am trying hard not for myself but for the people around me. I lose the top spot and it feels so good to study without expectations and pressure.

9th grade, I learned to skip classes. Just absent, I still never cut classes. Lol. I learned to cheat with my classmates on an exam, we have that so called cheating arrangement and when there's an exam, wonder pets is being activated.

10th grade, last year of my Junior High School and I'm completely free. I go to school without worrying if I'll get a high grade or not, I don't care, as long as I have a passing grade. And so my Junior High School days ended and I was awarded with Honors. This time, I was so happy to receive the award for I know that I did it to myself, I did it without stress, and I enjoyed the process.

Senior High School

This was the year when I finally moved in with my sister and her family that's why I have to transfer school. And I treated this as my clean slate. I'm far from our relatives eyes, there's no expectation so I can just study and chill. No pressure at all.

And that's what I did. Of course, I still do study hard, only when there's an exam. I was just a normal student and I'm happy to be one.

2 years in Senior High School passed so fast. I finished high school with an award, without even burning my eyebrows. Lol

College Days

I'm still currently on college. Well, technically not because it's already our vacation. But I can say that right now, I am enjoying my college life. I don't focus on academics that much, I am just complying on every requirements and I'm just making sure to have a passing grade.

I don't want to pressure myself. Having passing grades is hard enough so I'm being easy on myself. Also, I am more active on other activities. I am an active student. I am the block president, I joined student councils and organizations and so far, I am learning a lot and enjoying the experience.

I didn't know learning could be this fun if only I didn't lose the top stop. And hey, it's okay to aim to be on top and to study hard for it. But we have to make sure that we are enjoying the process.

After all, education us a journey, not a race. Learning doesn't stop, it's a continuous process, a never ending journey. And while we're at it, let's make every step fun, worthwhile and enjoyable, shall we?

Let's practice sportsmanship in education, where we treat each other fairly, where we respect one another, and where we easily accept defeat and be happy for other's achievements.

Learning should be fun, and we can have that fun when we try to eliminate the competition and to just enjoy our journey, may it be our journey in school, or our journey in the outside world. Let's always try to be sport on our every learning journey.

hey all! thanks for reading. and as always, take care. :))