Whether a competitive environment in school would bring excellence and need to be encouraged? A competitive environment in school and university would bring excellence and need to be encouraged. To what extent do you agree or disagree? There has been a heated debate on whether a competitive environment in schools and universities would bring excellence and need to be encouraged. Although some believe that competition would help students with their academic achievement, I am convinced that bringing severe competition may not be a good idea for students. Firstly, I do admit that schools and universities are places where students learn knowledge before they step into the crucial business world. A competitive environment would be encountered sooner or later, so it would be beneficial for students to adopt this environment at a relatively early age. Also, a more competitive environment challenge students work harder in their studies in order to discover their hidden talent or achieve greater academic success. However, there are numerous reasons why schools and universities should not be an extremely competitive place, for example, schools should also be a place for students to make friends and help with each other instead of seeing each other like enemies, in addition to this, a competitive environment may stop some students from going to school or even learning. According to a recent research, 15% of the students who study in a very competitive environment may suffer a wide range of mental health problems including anxiety and insomnia. Not only students' physical health but also mental health should be taken into consideration when making schools into a competitive place. In conclusion, I think schools and universities should not make the environment a very competitive place for students, schools should not only be a place for students to learn knowledge but also a place for them to make friends and stay healthy physically and mentally.