There is an ongoing debate regarding how competitive school environment can have an impact on children. While some believe that it can affect students negatively, others argue that it creates high-achieving individuals. Personally, I agree with the notion that competitiveness in educational settings can be beneficial to students, as it encourages them to constantly learn and perform better.
With guidance and care from parents and supervisors, a demanding environment and a certain degree of competitiveness in a school setting can significantly benefit students because it motivates them to aim for excellent results. Being surrounded by peers who also perceive education and/or extracurricular activities as an important matter in their lives will also inspire children to explore and obtain distinct skills from one another. In addition, it also allows them to learn how to regulate emotions and function under stress, given that the real world is just as, if not more, competitive. These perks that come with being put in a high-achieving academic setting benefit no one but the children themselves.
On the other hand, schools that are too competitive can put on students the pressure that they might not be able to cope with at such a young age, and can negatively affect their self-confidence in the long run. Students who endure with competitiveness in a learning environment for a long time tend to seek academic validation, meaning that their own perception of themselves depends on how well they can perform academically. Without strong mentality and self-awareness, this can lead to long-term issues, such as low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.
Admittedly, students can feel pressured and stressed in the competitive school environment. However, the advantages outweigh significantly, as competitiveness encourages them to learn and achieve a variety of things from it, including ambition and stress management. All in all, ambitious educational environment can offer students many advantages that will enable them to become a successful individual in a long term.