May the best girl win!

Competition is human nature. Competition makes us move forward, push harder, pass our limits. Competition can occur between co-workers for a raise or a new position, between sibling for the parents’ attention or the last piece of pie on the plate, between friends sometimes to validate a status. Competition happens between people for things as various as money, fame, recognition or affection.

Competition forces people to look at the other and evaluate the differences, the strengths, and the weaknesses, to position themselves in a context, presenting the best side, the strongest face, the calmest mood.

If there is a secret to winning a competition, it’s confidence, without being over-confident. It’s making a statement of strength and detachment. It’s being involved without being emotional. And it’s belief. And sometime we doubt, we loose confidence; we’re scared. But we keep on hoping, we believe. And sometimes it just happens. We win.

I was just a twenty-something, barely out of school when I was put in front of another twenty-something, during an internship, in the race for a job. She was prettier than me, she was more social, and she was not an idiot either. Plus she was a really nice girl and we even became sort of friends… I was scared but I kept on working. Hoping that I would get out of that internship at least a good learning experience. But I was sure she would be the chosen one. I was defeated before even fighting. But I was hoping. I loved my job; I was enthusiastic and hard working. I was passionate about what I was doing. In the end, they chose me. This experience taught me to believe in myself. Doubt is still here, more than often, but deep inside, I have the strength and I know I can win, if I really want.