Competition isn’t just about winning or losing, it’s an important part of personal growth and development. Competition allows you to see where you stand, set better goals, and improve yourself.
If someone were to ask me what has been the most meaningful thing that happened to me in the past three years since I entered university, I would answer without hesitation that it was representing Korea at the ACM-ICPC World Finals in Stockholm in the spring of 2009. Participating in the ACM-ICPC competition as a national team member was definitely an honour and a valuable experience in itself, but more importantly, I learnt the ‘thrill of competition’ through the process.
In fact, for many people, competition can be a not-so-pleasant experience. I used to be the same way, and it’s only relatively recently that I’ve found joy and meaning in competition, especially programming competitions.
Six years ago, I had a vague idea that I wanted to learn computers, and I first entered a competition called the Information Olympiad on the recommendation of a school teacher. However, I didn’t do well, as I knew nothing. Compared to my friends who had been preparing for a long time, my skills were no match. But I had an epiphany, and that’s when I started studying programming in earnest. I went to a cram school to learn the basics and taught myself a lot through books and the internet. By the time he reached high school, he was confident that he had improved enough to compete in national competitions. But every time she tried, she came up short at regionals. It was frustrating to think, ‘Why not me? I could be good at this…’ and it was a huge blow to my ego to be left behind. Competition remained a bitter memory for me until then.
I put programming competitions on the back burner for a while, but one day I discovered that my university had an undergraduate programming competition called ACM-ICPC. This competition, especially the team-based problem solving, was a great challenge and inspiration to other students. It was very inspiring for me to see them gathering every day for hours to solve problems and share their knowledge with each other. In the process, my passion for programming competitions was rekindled.
After spending a lot of time studying, I gained a sense of accomplishment and confidence that I could solve problems that I couldn’t solve before. Competing with other people gave me a clear picture of my position, which gave me the opportunity to be selected to the first team of Seoul National University despite being a freshman, and I was able to perform well at competitions in Korea and finally qualify for the world finals.
During the preparation period from winter 2008 to April 2009, I spent several hours a day with my teammates solving problems. This process required constant and steady training, just like an athlete preparing for a competition. Every day was a competition with myself and other teams from around the world. Although I didn’t achieve my goal in the finals, the competition itself instilled in me another desire to grow and achieve. I vowed that if I was given the opportunity to compete here again, I would aim for even higher heights.
Looking back on the experience, I realised that I was growing as a person through competition. It’s not just about winning or losing, it’s an important source of motivation that makes me a better person. Competing against someone else allowed me to see where I was at and set specific goals for how to move forward. Programming competitions, in particular, have provided me with powerful feedback that has allowed me to constantly see my growth, and in the process, push me to grow even further.
I’ve found that I can grow through competition, not only in programming, but in other things as well. Competition is sometimes sobering, sometimes painful, but at the end of the day, it’s definitely about improving. The joy of solving a problem that I couldn’t solve before, the sense of accomplishment when I solve a problem faster than others, makes me stronger. Competition is not just a tool for comparison, but an important stimulus for growth and development.
A few days ago, I asked my younger brother, who is studying for the SATs, what he thought of competition. He replied that it’s about ‘trying to stand above others.’ As he said, competition often feels like a cold, hard fight. But I told him that it’s not. Competition isn’t necessarily about winning or losing. It’s an opportunity to reflect on yourself, to think about what you’ve achieved and how you can do better. In the end, it pushes you forward, it makes you grow, and that’s the greatest meaning I’ve found in competition.
Even now, I’m still pushing myself in competitions big and small. I don’t always come out on top, but the fact that I’m bettering myself in the process makes it worthwhile.
You should read growth in competition. The competition we face shouldn’t just be a tool for dividing winners and losers. Instead, we should reflect on how much we are growing and evolving in that competition. Competition is a journey to discover your potential and become a better you. I still have a long way to go. I’m still competing with many people along the way, but I’m definitely growing in that competition. In this constant competition with the world and myself, I’m trying to figure out what I want and who I want to become.
