Recognition

[Phayre]

So, today I got an award from the state of Massachusetts, telling me that I'm an "outstanding and excellent" youth or somethin'. All well and good.... I got $150, a reeeally nice MP3 player as a "door prize", a flower, a certificate, a book, a medal, and a nice dinner. Yes, residents of MA, this is where your tax dollars go.
But.... I think it's sad. A lot of the kids were given all this for graduating high school, or for getting a GED, or for having a baby at age 16 and not exploding. Keep in mind these are all kids involved with DSS (Department of Social Services), but it for kids, it was a major struggle just to do the normal stuff people do, like school. I understand the pressure caused by family circumstances.... but I just think it's sad. Sad that so many kids are having so much trouble, sad that the state feels the need to shower kids with praise for this stuff. It just sets the bar lower, you know? Oh, here's an award for being pregnant at age 16. Here's one for looking for a job. I don't think time was well spent throwing this big party. I think time and money should be spent helping these kids grow, so they don't have to make do with being good for a "SPED kid" or a "trouble child".
Thoughts?

[Bluhman]

As a Rochestarian of New York, I have no freaking clue what you're talking about.

Well, I do, but I have very little familiarity with this topic.

[Osmose]

Most of the awards I get are going straight to my college costs, so I don't complain, although, for the record, most of my awards are ones that required effort. But I can definitely understand your point that recognition where it is unnecessary is kinda whack, although admittedly you've got to think that at least a few people benefit from the attention they get for doing stuff that may have been really hard for them.

Pretty much every award I've ever gotten involves either general academic excellence or Computer Programming. I mean, I beat the Computer Programming Magnet School at a programming competition. The guys who focus specifically on programming for most of their curriculum starting Freshman year. Self taught, baby.)

[Roland_Deschain]

As a former resident of every state on the east coast, just about, I understand perfectly. There are a ton of needless awards given out, not just in MA, but also in my (current) state, Maine. For example, while i admit my grades are good (A's and B's, usually one C), I got an award for something that had no purpose but to get an award: I got a "Certificate of Grammar" award for not writing at a fifth grade level. Three fifths of the class got this award too, so it's not like this was an uncommon trait, or anything.
However, the rest of my awards at said ceremony DID require me to work for. Top Junior in the state for English, third or fourth for Spanish, and the ability to keep a 95 or higher throughout all of high school so far, etc. I haven't gotten one computer based award, mostly because the classes my school offers are basic and I can already do everything they teach in them. Except back up a file in Linux. How to do that eludes me to this day...

[HackersTotalMassLaser]

The only recognition I remember getting was for  being on top of the younger graduates in high school at the time. (though there wasnt any real prizes)

I really blamed my parents on that one for putting me on kindergarden 10 days after my 4th birthday.

I really never cared for general excellence. George Bush got excellence awards; just look at him now; He's like a turtle on top of a cylender block. (stolen from someone's sign).

[Phayre]

No, no, not complaining. The money will go to clothing that actually fits me, so I shouldn't complain. But I think making a really big deal out of just normal stuff lowers the bar of "excellence". Some kids (like me) got it for not only academic excellence (which for some of these kids was passing a single class), but for the situations they've faced. Within just this year, I was moved to two different foster homes from the one I was in for 5 years, then sent home to my family. All of these places were about an hour away from my school, but I kept going. There's a lot of other stuff I don't want to get into. A couple of kids overcame domestic violence issues and put their experiences to work by working on a degree in counseling or social work and working at a shelter for battered women. There just seemed to be a lot of silly-seeming awards that didn't seem necessary at all.

[Desimodontidae]

Being a "normal" person, it's somewhat annoying to see stuff like this. I mean, I get good grades, I can easily find a job, I know how to use contraceptives, and I don't have to "work hard" to achieve this. In fact, I don't have any difficulty with those things (most people don't, right?). So why reward people who do and encourage them to continue, make them think that what they are doing is right, something that will pay off, reward them?

What if like, I started taking advanced quantum field theory courses? And I struggle academically with it. Then I like, drop out and get my scientist's GED.. hypothetically, of course. I should be rewarded, right? Same principles. Of course, there's a difference between quantum physics and GENERAL PUBLIC EDUCATION: I wouldn't reward someone for learning the latter.

I think the problem lies within the actual people themselves. For some reason or another they don't apply themselves to anything. Now I know lots of times it can involve mental disorders and just generally stupid people. But seriously. wtf?

[Meiscool-2]

THAT KID TOOK IN A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!

MEDAL HIM!

[FFL2and3rocks]

I just got some kind of award in the mail for passing my Multimedia class. What the hell? It's just a class for basic Photoshop/PowerPoint/InDesign stuff.

[Archem]

Ooh, a real flower? Those are pricey, they are!

Schools give away shit for doing useless stuff?! Not here... Man, Texas blows when it comes to free stuf plz. My recognition is when I go to a friend's house, and they agree to let me in. You'd think it was a special talent or something... But hey, if you feel that bad about the situation, I'll be glad to take that MP3 player off your hands.

[X_marks_the_ed]

I've never won anything in my life. Seriously.

Makes me wish I'd get one of these pity awards.

[Phayre]

No way, dude. MY Zen. MINE.

[Meiscool-2]

Wanna hear something racist and funny?

They give awards and mail letters to mexicans that graduate from my school. Why did I say only mexicans? Because they don't give awards to anyone else, just letters of congrats.

[Archem]

I wish I went to your school. I could use my very own beaner award...

[Meiscool-2]

They would give you a prade if you're an A student. I jest not.