The Trophy That Never Came (Until It Did, Briefly)
For years, essentially starting from elementary school, I watched others walk across stages, their names echoing through auditoriums, hands outstretched to receive gleaming trophies and certificates. In undergrad, and then in various workplaces, that familiar pang of jealousy would strike. It wasn't that I craved the spotlight, but rather, I couldn't reconcile the disconnect between effort and recognition. I knew, deep down, that I was often putting in far more work than many of my peers, yet the accolades seemed to consistently bypass me. This wasn't a motivator. It didn't inspire me to "try harder". Instead, it fostered a quiet acceptance. I learned to be a strong academic, a reliable colleague, and a leader without the expectation of external validation. The "trophy" became an irrelevant concept. I focused on the intrinsic rewards: the satisfaction of solving a complex problem, the joy of a well-executed project, and the respect of those I worked ...