Title: The American Award Culture: A Closer Look at Celebrating Achievements
In many countries, the way we recognize student accomplishments varies significantly, and it’s interesting to compare these differences. For instance, in Canada, medals and awards are awarded quite sparingly and often for events that may not highlight major achievements. My brother, who participates in athletics, has experienced this firsthand. Only the top three finishers in his city receive medals, and even then, the awards are small, often not even gold. At district and regional competitions, medals are replaced with tiny ribbons that tend to get lost easily, which diminishes their significance.
On the other hand, in the United States, the culture of celebrating achievements seems more abundant and inclusive. It appears that students may receive medals simply for participating in events, which can be a fun way to recognize effort and dedication (correct me if I’m mistaken). Additionally, the tradition of using graduation cords and multiple medals to showcase different honors creates a vibrant celebration of students’ accomplishments.
In my own school’s award ceremony, only students on the honor roll received medals, while those with the highest grades in specific subjects were awarded certificates. To me, this distribution feels a bit mismatched—honor roll status is accessible to many, but achieving a nearly perfect grade, like a 99 in calculus, is much rarer and more impressive.
Looking at my collection, I realize I have six medals from various activities and numerous certificates cluttering my home—reminders of different milestones that, while meaningful, don’t quite match the grandeur of American award ceremonies.
Ultimately, I find myself a bit envious of the American approach to acknowledging student success. The colorful cords, multiple medals, and lively graduation celebrations seem to add an exciting flair to the process. It makes me wonder: what if we adopted a similar celebratory spirit to honor students’ dedication and achievements in other countries?