Keeping toxicity out of it makes it beautiful and enjoyable.

## Hello, everyone. Welcome to my blog and another wonderful edition of the Hive Learner's featured post. I grew up in a neighborhood filled with kids, and at the end of every term, those who came top of their class were always praised by the elders in our neighborhood. Sometimes they went as far as getting them gifts and some little things just to appreciate their effort so that next term they would want to do better. Also, those who did not do well would be forced to sit up, so they would also be given a wonderful treat by some of the elders in our neighborhood.  [Source](https://unsplash.com/photos/man-in-black-and-red-plaid-shirt-and-black-pants-standing-on-track-field-during-daytime-cSladFbk1bw) The fact that those who end the term at the top of their class are rewarded by elders in our neighborhood made it look like all the kids in the neighborhood were in a competition with each other, especially those in the same class. Everyone wanted to be at the top of their class. Whenever it was exam period, the number of kids that came out to play in the neighborhood reduced drastically because everyone would be busy trying to do the right thing, trying to do whatever it takes to be at least in the top 3 of their class. It was that period that I was able to understand that competition serves as a push; it will compel you to do what is expected of you. Sometimes you feel lazy or don't like certain things, but you will be forced to do those things you don't like just to win, just to be better. I never liked evening classes, but as those who came top in their class started getting rewarded for it, I was the one begging my parents to enroll me in one, and when they did, I took it seriously. Competition serves as a push, but the moment jealousy, envy, and hate start to have a room, it becomes really dangerous and bad and that is what makes any competition toxic. Many people compete for the wrong things. I used to have a female friend who was low-key competing with every other girl in church. Whatever handbag or shoe they bought and wore to church, and she saw it on them, she would pressure herself until she bought it too and wore it to church the following Sunday. Competitions like this are wrong. Compete to improve yourself, compete to better your life and change your situation, and not to compete for material things. In most cases, competing for these material things is where you see hate and envy, as people who compete for better things just want to see each other grow; they just use the competition as a means to get each other to do the right thing. Here in school I have a friend who, whenever it is exam time, will set a deadline for everyone to finish reading a particular course, and whenever we meet, we just revise it and confirm that everyone read it, and I will not lie, if not for that push, I will keep lazying around until it is a few days before exams, and then everything becomes bulky and too much to cover.  [Source](https://unsplash.com/photos/two-men-running-on-field-with-people-on-side-cheering-for-them-H30w37gpkro) Keeping toxicity out of a competition might be difficult for some people, but one way to go about keeping a competition healthy is by keeping a pure heart and your mindset should be set right. Always keep in the back of your mind that you are in it to grow, but if one person's growth comes first, it does not mean you should start hating; instead, keep doing the right thing until yours comes.