As a kid, I was promoted from the second to the fourth grade.
I was in a classroom that housed both second and third grade students. As a result, I learned and completed the work of both grades in a single year. My parents and the school administration decided to promote me straight to the fourth grade.
Once I arrived, I came to the realization that I was a year smaller and shorter than everyone else in my class. It didn’t affect me socially, but it did athletically. I was smaller, weaker and slower than all the other boys. This didn’t come into play if we were just playing a pick up game, but in the organized sporting world, the disparity was obvious. I didn’t make the cut for the team on which all my friends played. I was the least skilled on the team that did pity me enough to put me on their roster.
I simply wasn’t very good. I never won a trophy. Not even a ribbon. It was exactly as it should be. Winners in a competition get the trophies and the losers get nothing.
I was good academically. I received academic trophies and ribbons. In high school, I even received an academic letter.
Our children today are receiving trophies, awards and accolades even when they fail to perform. Is it any wonder why they expect the world to celebrate them simply for existing? If you reward someone for simply breathing air, they are going to get pretty upset if it ever stops.
In the real world, trophies go to the winner, accolades go to achievers and bonuses get paid to producers.
Joel Stiff's Adventure 