At my son’s previous school, he consistently earned most of the academic accolades. His dedication, focus, and ability to complete his assignments to a high standard led to these recognitions. I’ve never had to prompt him for homework or test preparation, and indeed, he is quite intelligent.
During the awards ceremony, as the principal prepared to announce the honorees, he cautioned the audience: “When we present the awards, please refrain from clapping or making noise. This is not a sporting event, so let’s hold our applause until the end for a brief cheer before returning to class.”
I was taken aback. My hands instinctively fell to my lap, and a wave of disappointment washed over me.
For my son, this ceremony represents his own “sporting event.” It’s an opportunity for him to shine. School is where he excels and dedicates his energy. While he may never receive a trophy for being part of a championship team, he certainly deserves acknowledgment for maintaining straight A’s or achieving the highest GPA in his class. While he could participate in debate or science clubs, if those don’t resonate with him, school is his arena.
Why should we celebrate academic excellence any less than athletic prowess? Both the student who excels in the classroom and the athlete who excels on the field devote time and effort to their respective pursuits.
As the principal concluded his remarks, I noticed parents putting their hands away and a palpable deflation of energy among the students in the bleachers. Each child approached the stage in silence to receive their awards, returning to their seats with minimal acknowledgment. Occasionally, a parent would break the silence with a cheer, unable to contain their pride, but like my son, I adhered to the established decorum.
In that moment, I recalled the day my son walked into the cafeteria for his kindergarten visit. He was so tall that they placed him at the end of the line. By the end of the year, he graduated still standing tall, clutching a paper-plate award. While each child proudly displayed their awards, his simply stated: “Enjoys playing with his friends and racing cars.”
I had to read it multiple times. It could have easily said: “Loves building intricate Lego structures” or “Future engineer.” Some awards certainly lack significance, but others are genuinely earned through hard work.
Why do we not celebrate scholars with the same enthusiasm as athletes?
“Why?” my son asked when I suggested he keep the certificates he received. “Store them in your binder. You earned them, and I’m proud of you,” I replied. Though reluctantly, he retrieved his binder filled with awards. I hope that one day he will discover that binder—perhaps buried in a box I’ll give him when he graduates from college—and feel a sense of nostalgia and pride.
Those accolades are no less deserving than an athlete’s MVP award. It’s essential that we cheer for our gifted academic kids. The implication of our silence is that these achievements may be discarded, suggesting that society undervalues the talents these children bring to our community.
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In summary, we should strive to celebrate academic excellence with the same enthusiasm as athletic accomplishments. Academic achievements are a reflection of hard work and dedication, deserving of recognition and applause.
Keyphrase: celebrate academic achievements
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