There is a silent epidemic that’s affecting people everywhere: Participation Trophy Syndrome (PTS). Yes, it’s that mindset where constructive criticism feels like a personal attack, every task demands a gold star, and just ticking boxes seems good enough. But here’s the real talk—life doesn’t hand out participation trophies. I’m going to break down how this syndrome is crippling "careers," what it really takes to overcome it, and why our school system is to blame.