I’m not the only one who still faces my parents’ seemingly impossible expectations for my education and overall behavior. The expectations don’t just stop at family; they extend towards how almost the entire nation views Asian-Americans as a whole. Asian-Americans immediately fall under the category of a “model minority”, in
which given national statistics regarding education and or employment rates are higher for this particular group than any other. However, this data is too general of a statement and does not apply towards each individual. The “model minority” myth fails to address Asian American youth who do not reach the expected degree of intelligence or type of career that society and even families anticipate. It also manages to obscure the economic crises many families face under the successful facade.
One student, Vivian Nguyen ‘18, shared how her parents’ pressures affected her schedule, “They expect me to achieve the highest grades while balancing other extra curricular activities.” Generally, many Asian-Americans of this generation are harmed by the pressures families and communities can force on them. If you have strict parents who often abide by their own cultural behaviors concerning your education and social life, you might be familiar with stressing over dropping below an A or early curfews. Since the student majority of Silver Creek is Vietnamese, many can share similar sentiments about how family life clashes with school.
which given national statistics regarding education and or employment rates are higher for this particular group than any other. However, this data is too general of a statement and does not apply towards each individual. The “model minority” myth fails to address Asian American youth who do not reach the expected degree of intelligence or type of career that society and even families anticipate. It also manages to obscure the economic crises many families face under the successful facade.
One student, Vivian Nguyen ‘18, shared how her parents’ pressures affected her schedule, “They expect me to achieve the highest grades while balancing other extra curricular activities.” Generally, many Asian-Americans of this generation are harmed by the pressures families and communities can force on them. If you have strict parents who often abide by their own cultural behaviors concerning your education and social life, you might be familiar with stressing over dropping below an A or early curfews. Since the student majority of Silver Creek is Vietnamese, many can share similar sentiments about how family life clashes with school.
Melanie Lam ‘19 stated, “I used to feel a constant pressure that I should have straight A's by my parents. They are always pushing me to excel in my education. Straight A's were not rewarded in my family since it was already expected.” My parents, including many others around the Bay Area, had immigrated from Vietnam due to difficult circumstances caused by the Vietnam War. Because of the hardships that they have experienced, I feel that my problems are insignificant compared to theirs. Thus, handling any educational or social problems comes to a point where I have to pent up everything to maintain a stable facade. This is where generational trauma becomes highly relevant.
There is a burdensome responsibility on second-generation youth that educational responsibility is less severe than what their parents have gone through. I believe this is an ongoing problem amongst other Asian-American youth. This contributes to how Asians are overrepresented as the most successful minority over others.
There is a burdensome responsibility on second-generation youth that educational responsibility is less severe than what their parents have gone through. I believe this is an ongoing problem amongst other Asian-American youth. This contributes to how Asians are overrepresented as the most successful minority over others.