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| From left: Sara Madison, Courtney Poirier, Saverina Chicka, Rachel Poirier, Megan Collins |
"Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny." ~ Lao Tzu
I used to think that award ceremonies were silly, for two reasons:
1. The people who win awards in any field (science, medicine, art, athletics, etc.) are almost always born with significant advantages at birth. As Malcolm Gladwell taught us in Outliers, they have more advantageous genes, family backgrounds, and opportunities right from the start. Hard work and improvement play a significant role, but the unseen factors still dominate.
2. Being more accomplished does not make people happier. In fact, it might make them unhappier.
What sense does it make, then, to recognize people on such an uneven playing field, especially when it's unlikely to contribute to their happiness? This was how I used to think about our annual awards gala held on Sunday, where we recognize particular athletes for their accomplishments.
But what I've come to realize is that the recognition is more important than the award. Even being nominated for an award can change how a person thinks about herself. And how a person thinks about herself can alter who she becomes.
Most importantly, I've realized that these thoughts are being planted all the time, for better or worse.
[Thank you to our athletics staff who have been working for years to make this a special event]
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