“Participation Award DOAWK” is an actual phrase that searches for a nonexistent book. Instead of being an actual book, it refers to one of the multiple themes present in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. In the 11th book in the series, Double Down, one of the scenes features Greg Heffley mocking a soccer team for receiving awards for just showing up, without actually winning.
In the series, participation has a pejorative meaning, and unearned awards serve to reward behavior that isn’t actually winning. This scene actually describes what might otherwise be perceived as a half-full glass when explaining what it Takes to Win.
The Core Message of DOAWK
Middle school is seen as the most difficult school to attend, socially, and Greg Heffley would be the student that would most know that. For Greg, school status is like valuable currency. He is always doing something to as to be and never be regarded as the most unfortunate of all things, forgettable.
Participation trophies popping up in his school would be aggravating to him. Not winning would just be giving these awards to people as participation trophies. Regardless, as these things are easy to also see, the outcomes of the pursuit itself neither have neither massive value of valuable prizes. The outcomes are actually massive worthy prizes.
Success Redefined: Beyond Winning
The “Participation Award DOAWK” argument suggests we need to refine what it means to win. Many argue children receiving awards for simply ‘showing up’ demonstrates that the only requirement to ‘win’ is to exist, which can kill motivation for improvement. Contrasting this, child psychologists argue the award ceremony does serve a purpose.
To build resilience, we should praise perseverance rather than achievement. Many people will quit if they are only rewarded for the end results. Success is somewhere in the middle. Starting the journey should be commended, but we need to set a standard that is neither demeaning nor devoid of effort. Instead of a trophy, children should be commended for the ‘better effort’ or the ‘willingness to learn’ from the loss, or for having a good attitude.
Real World Usage
So what is the middle school humor in this, and how can we teach from it? For starters, the way they teach appreciation needs to change, and need to go beyond the generic attendees award. Think of something specific for the loss, or lack of achievement. As an example, that was a student’s example from the ‘bad loss,’ or ‘defeat’ in a math example, thank you.
You also need to separate to lose and to be a loser. The shame of loss needs to be removed, stepping on back to the field. The shame of loss should be disappearing, and the loss should be much easier. To take the loss, it should be much easier, which is the loss should be the shame of stepping on much easier.
Journey > Destination
There are many reasons for the internet’s fascination with the “Participation Award DOAWK” meme, but at least one trend is concerned with the anxiety we feel when we think we have failed or been “mediocre.” In the book, Greg Heffley’s fear of being average is “relatable,” but what the book is showing us is that fear combined with that belief is what traps him in those stagnant, awkward positions.
The most significant progress actually happens when you think less about others and what they’ve accomplished, including what trophies they may or may not have received, and focus on yourself and the progress you are making. Focus on the steps of your journey that are imperfect and feel disorganized, and you may discover that the greatest reward is the journey itself.
