The word competitive, to me, means wanting to be the greatest and to always be a contender. Someone who is competitive is always trying to win and do their best. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines competitive as inclined, desiring, or suited to compete. This relates to me in almost anything I do in life. I am always trying to improve myself so I can be better than others. This supports my desire to win anything and everything I set my mind to.

The word competitive describes me very well. My drive for success means I am the type of person who never wants to lose, no matter the situation. This can be proven in the winter when I race snowmobiles and after over a decade I still hate to lose. There have been a few instances over the years where I have raced for more than one hundred miles just to end up losing by .93 of a second. Time is money. That one second cost me thousands. Losing in this way is like a punch in the gut. I came so close, less than a second from winning, but I still lost.
I find myself to be very competitive in my everyday life as well. Dale Earnhardt, one of nascars all time favorites, once said, “I’ve got to win every race.” Whether it is a test I bet a buddy I would do better on, racing someone to lunch, finishing a crossword puzzle, or even when I am in a team sports gym class; I will do anything that I possibly can to make sure that my team wins. I do not like to lose. Another word that goes hand in hand with competitive is ambitious. People who are ambitious are usually defined as competitive as well. They are what I would call the overachievers, those with a purpose, or those with a very distinct goal in mind. These people are often very enthusiastic to the extent that they are pushy, but they get things done efficiently and they get them done the right way. Being ambitious is fearless determination.

Although I am competitive, there are some things that I know I just can’t beat.  One of these things is math. I used to excel at math and be one of the best in the grade, but I have slowly fallen down the ladder over the years and am now  near what I would say is the bottom. Even though I have accepted that I am not the best in that particular area, I still want to compete with my peers and strive to do better, but it can be difficult at times.
   

Being competitive can be a good thing, but also bad thing in life. If you are very competitive, like myself, you will probably be someone that likes to get things done, do them right, but also be first in doing so. This reflects what is known as a type A personality, meaning someone who is not only competitive, but has a keen sense of urgency and is easily brought to anger. Research has also shown that these behavior patterns are linked to a greater chance of heart disease and high cholesterol. My competitiveness can even get a little out of hand at times. It is not unusual for me to take a nice family board game to the next level. I will do anything to win it; even if that means upsetting my three younger sisters in the process. I am not the type to cheat although I am not saying that I never have. Cheating is very wrong and you should never do it but I don’t think there is anyone who can say that they never have.

Those who are not as competitive appear more relaxed and stress-free. They are not consumed with the desire to be the best or maybe they just don't care. I find it difficult to relate to those who don’t give it their all and strive to win. I believe that being competitive is a good thing; it encourages a person to want to do better and to work harder. If you are competitive, in my opinion, you are more likely to succeed in life. I also feel that determination is a huge factor in being competitive. It is what drives a person to persevere and never give up. It makes you work through the hard times. It helps you win every race.