It is human nature to strive for superiority. Everyone wants to be the best everywhere and always. This happens involuntarily, regardless of states and possibilities. It's just that a person longs for recognition, a worthy assessment of his abilities and merits.
Why is it that second place is often worse than no participation? The point, of course, is human nature. The label "second" means "not the first, but very close to it." Take, for example, the Olympiad in mathematics among schoolchildren. Any student who took places below the fifth can say that he simply did not give all his best, did not work on himself properly. He takes it easy. He is not depressed by the fact that someone managed to bypass him. Such a participant can push everything into haste and carelessness. But those who from the very beginning aim at the championship and occupy the first five places cannot say so. After all, they made every possible effort. The lucky one who got the first place will naturally be very proud of being rated according todignity, and the rest will be full of grief and despair - because their hopes were not justified.
Silver is not gold. In every competition, second place, whose prize is a silver medal, is hateful to would-be leaders. After all, it is the one who takes the place following the leader who realizes that he lacked quite a bit for a complete victory. A silver medal becomes for such people a symbol of a missed opportunity. That is why many Olympic-level athletes would rather go without a medal than be awarded a silver.
School Relay
Silver medal at school is given to those who at the end of their studies have "excellent" grades and no more than two "good" grades in general education subjects. It is also called the Diligence Medal. Some take it without much joy, because diligence is the application of huge efforts to the learning process. But it seems that just as diligence without results means nothing, so diligent study without a gold medal does not make sense. Many students, and especially female students, are very sensitive to the evaluation of their efforts.
Of course, the presence or absence of a medal does not always determine a person's future, but the emotional background that accompanies such situations can leave a residue in a person's heart for life. Every parent needs to remember that their child needs support and acceptance. For those who “shine” a silver medal, this is necessarysometimes even more than those who graduate with an average score.
A silver medal can be the turning point that makes a person think their efforts will never be appreciated. In this case, it is important to make it clear to the child that grades, medals, diplomas and certificates are not the main thing. They do not determine the future of man, his destiny. And, of course, happiness, recognition, respect and love do not depend on them at all. There is something more important in life than getting an education. The main thing is not to be the best for someone, but to live in accordance with the ideal that you have set for yourself. It is worth remembering that it is impossible to please everyone.
