[pops88]

“Everyone getting a trophy is not bad per se. It becomes a memento of participating on a team, no different than a team picture.”

Back around 1967 I went to my swim team awards dinner. They gave everyone a trophy which was an award, definitely not a team picture. I see a huge difference. It was absolutely worthless to me because I knew I didn’t deserve it or earn it. I was absolutely disgusted with the adults. I was 8 or 9 at the time.

[Defiant]

I appreciate your anecdote. I have had the opposite experience. For example, when I was 8, our team won a championship in football. All the players got a trophy at our banquet. I look at that trophy and remember playing on that team. I also won an MVP award. I look at that trophy and have a different kind of feeling, of pride at being recognized. Two different reactions. I am glad I have trophies from teams I was on, even when I wasn't the MVP, because I enjoy seeing them and remembering the team.

I guess it comes down to the purpose of the trophy. Is it to say you excelled at something, or is it to say merely that you were part of a team. If the latter, then a trophy is no different than a photo, a ribbon or a certificate of participation. It is a memento. If the trophy signifies that you did something excellent, though, and it is given to everyone, then it loses value. In any endeavor, we appreciate the things most that we had to work the hardest for. If I had to choose between my MVP trophies and my participation on a team trophies, then I guess I'd go with the MVP ones. But I like all of them. Your mileage may vary.