"Recent Hire Seattle"'s perspective is based on a short term view of "a few months" employment and may be different than a long term, careerist view of 5+ years.
Based on her shared observations/experiences of
"colleagues... never too busy to help me; manager... incredibly flexible with respect to my work schedule... open and responsive when I’ve brought up issues pertaining to race and gender in the workplace", this individual may not yet have experienced competition in the workplace. Competition can call for great sacrifice of personal time and private life. For example, she may not have had vacations cancelled, missed weddings/funerals/birthdays/kids' games and recitals... or been required to stay at the office and work 48-hours straight through to resolve a disaster-recovery issue.
Over time, some individuals may find a measure of challenge, reward, and exhilaration from pursuits in their free time outside of work, such as start-ups, vacations, travel, friends, family, and volunteer causes (paying it forward and/or giving back). There may be something to be said for balance in one's life.
The elite firms that prefer students from elite schools are choosing young people who have excelled in prior competitions.
Often in life we get to choose our competitions... as well as the option to sometimes forego competition in favor of collaboration.
