Trophy and certificates time: 3 benefits for students’ academic growth and general development from school competitions Explaining how school competitions and tournaments have a great impact on developing learners skills

Rawan Essam

School competitions are organized events or contests in which students from a particular educational institution, or sometimes multiple institutions, participate to showcase their skills, talents, and knowledge in various fields such as academics, sports, arts, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), languages, and more. 

These competitions often provide students with opportunities to develop  new skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking. while fostering a spirit of healthy competition and camaraderie among participants. 

Development of motivation 

School competitions are proven to stimulate two forms of motivation in students: intrinsic and extrinsic.  Intrinsic motivation, which is presented by personal desires such as curiosity, interest, purpose, mastery, or feeling proud. A research study revealed that  the students during the math school competitions showed great enthusiasm and honor when they reached  problem-solving strategies or when they answered difficult questions, which increased their sense of motivation (1)(2). 

Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation go hand in hand. Extrinsic motivation is presented by outside motivation such as rewards, getting a high mark in an exam, or even being appreciated in front of others. During competitions, the students' extrinsic motivation was enhanced when they received positive feedback on their work, which motivated them to continue the rest of the rounds. 

Development of social interaction and collaboration 

School competitions encourage social interaction and foster interpersonal relationships with classmates. Students who prepare themselves to participate in competitions as a group develop teamwork skills. The participants have the same goal, to win the competitions. So, it paves the way for them to communicate more, exchange viewpoints, and support each other. 

It is proven that students who collaborate with each other perform better academically, report more positive relationships with classmates,  and have a stronger attachment to school. Moreover, it is found that teamwork develops various aspects among the participants, such as sharing, cooperating, and caring for others, which highlights the positive impact of school competitions (3)(4)(5).

Develop personal growth 

Participating in school competitions has a profound impact on an individual's personal life. It improves the self-confidence of the participants and changes their perspective on themselves and their potential. It encourages students to get themselves out of their comfort zone, embrace challenges, and overcome obstacles. Through both success and setbacks, students learn resilience, perseverance, and the value of hard work and determination (6)(7). 

In summary, parents and schools should pay more attention to school competitions  because they are beneficial on different levels, academically, personally, and socially, to the students. Moreover, it will help students reach their small goals, which will have a positive impact on their personalities, and develop strong and persistent personalities that can cope with this high-tech world.