Corinne S., Centerville High School
A Win in Disguise
Filled with devastation, my team realized we hadn’t won. We sat shoulder to shoulder in a stadium crowded with excited people and nervous coaches. My team was competing in a global competition in Kansas City against 52 other teams in May of 2022. After we had presented our intricately crafted solution to the challenge, we were convinced that we would be in the top five of teams.
At the awards ceremony, everyone held their breath in anticipation. When the winners were announced, we felt destroyed, the disappointment hit like a punch in the face. We hadn’t even gotten into the top ten. My teammates dropped their heads in frustration and disbelief. For a moment, I was livid, thinking the competition was rigged or that the judges had made a mistake. Then, I lifted my head and looked around me, at the flashing lights, and the crowd full of energy, and finally at my teammates who had worked so hard to get to where we stood. That's the very moment something clicked. We got here. Out of hundreds of teams, we were in the Heart of America. We deserved to be there. At that moment, I told myself “You can be bitter, or you can be proud.” That moment shifted my perception of winning. I chose to be happy.
We had wandered the vibrant and unique streets of Kansas City, tried new food, talked to friendly locals, and laughed together. Those memories were the real prize. I realized that no trophy could erase how much we had grown together. I saw the disappointment on my teammates'' faces and knew I had to cheer them up.
I shared with them my perspective and they realized that they should enjoy what they can. If not for themselves, then for the teams who would have done anything to be where we were standing. My optimism showed my teammates that just because we didn’t place well, we had amazing and new experiences together. We ended the trip smiling, taking pictures, and enjoying our last few moments in such a gorgeous city.
Even though we hadn’t done as well as we thought we would in the competition, I was still elated to be in the BBQ capital of the World. Focusing on the new things I saw and experienced, allowed me to enjoy the rest of the time we had in Kansas City.
The way I reacted in the situation has influenced how I handle disappointment ever since. It has allowed me to understand the power of having a positive attitude. Many years later, when I don’t do as well as I hope, I return to that moment in my mind. That was the moment I learned winning can come in many forms. I look back at that very moment that changed everything about how I approach disappointment. My optimism returns and I look on the bright side of any situation.
