Geography Competitions Rule!

I have been involved in several geography competitions; most of them were competitions with individuals competing against fellow contestants, while I was on a team in another competition. Regardless of the participation format, I enjoyed most moments of geography bees. The dreaded anticipation before each competition was a part of the experience, but I still had fun.

In a world that is more and more globalized and therefore competitive - with the United States trying to maintain its status as the top economic powerhouse, for example - geography competitions are wonderful for two main reasons. First, participants can have good-natured competition in which they can experience how to be humble, respect participants, and congratulate others for their efforts even if they do not win. Sometimes, the word compete takes on a negative connotation as if we are battling other people ruthlessly, but academic competitions tend to be way more respectful of others. Second, knowledge of geography helps people understand and appreciate the large world surrounding them, which is a good thing since we can easily communicate with humans living on other continents in this globalized society.