In my studio, I have many ambitious and competitive students and parents who naturally aspire to enter competitions and win prizes. This leads to the important question: Who gets to participate?

When a student or parent asks if they can “do that competition,” I’ve learned to follow up with, “Why do you want to enter this competition?” Often, the answers are somewhat vague: “Because we did it last year,” or “Her friend is doing it.” For me, these reasons alone aren’t sufficient.

Every teacher has their own criteria for deciding whether a student should enter a competition. For me, I focus on two key factors:

First, the student must demonstrate a strong and consistent desire to excel—not just when there’s the lure of a competition or a potential prize. If the student lacks this drive, then it must be evident in the parent.

Second, the student needs to genuinely benefit from the competition experience. Preparing for a competition is demanding and can involve tedious work, and for some students that’s exactly what they need: a goal, and a deadline. However, for others, the pressure might not be helpful. It’s also important to recognize that a student’s needs can change from year to year.