By Jessie Peng<\/p>\n
You\u2019re drenched in sweat as you clench last week\u2019s calculus test in your hands. The red pen mark is etched into the paper: 16\/20. You furiously punch it into your calculator: 80%. You\u2019re a little disappointed. You pulled half an all-nighter to study for that test, went in for extra help, and even peeked a bit at Bobby\u2019s paper beside you.\u00a0 Bobby turns to you, sees your mark, and smirks. You brush it off. But his next words are what get to you most. \u201cAw shucks, an Asian fail, guess your parents are taking out the bamboo stick tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
The person described in this scenario may not necessarily be you (especially if you have blond hair and green eyes), but the Asian stereotype should not have come as a surprise. In today\u2019s education system, the Asian stereotype has come to define the \u201cideal\u201d student: she\u2019s motivated, hardworking, has a 99% average, is a human calculator, and is wanted by universities from across the country.\u00a0 But just when you think that being labeled an overachiever is a compliment, think again.<\/p>\n
In the November issue of Maclean\u2019s, an article titled \u201cToo Asian?\u201d criticized the high Asian population at top-tier institutions such as UofT and UBC, claiming that the strong work-ethics and competitive attitudes of its Asian students have deterred many elite, private-schooled Caucasian students from attending. It went on implying that Asians are \u201csegregated from mainstream campus life\u201d as they prioritize academics over \u201csocial-interaction, athletics, and self-actualization,\u201d goals that a Caucasian student would aim for.<\/p>\n
Having said this, why has the Asian race become so synonymous with words such as \u201cnerd\u201d and \u201cgeek\u201d?<\/p>\n
One explanation behind the stereotype is that Asians, most having immigrated to Canada within only the last twenty years, have been pressured by socio-economic reasons to work hard. In a new country, and in the face of discrimination, the only way to gain status, recognition, and merit would be through obtaining high academic achievements, and in turn, a well-paying job. Or as Tracy He, a grade 12 student puts it, \u201cCompetition arises as Asians all know that we have to study to be successful\u2026unlike some private school kids, we don\u2019t have inheritances or trust-funds to rely on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another theory is that due to Canada\u2019s high immigration standards, Asian parents who come are usually highly-educated, and most likely expect the same from their children. \u201cGetting here was not easy. My parents had to study a lot to be able to come here, so the least I can do is bring home a good report card. At the same time, we don\u2019t have bamboo sticks at home\u2026I do what I do out of self-motivation,\u201d says Jenny Peng, another grade 12 NT student.<\/p>\n
Obviously, with a timetable bombarded with demanding courses like enriched English, three maths, and physics, there\u2019s little time left to organize a club, let alone make hockey practices three times a week. And that applies to everyone, not just to Asians. The problem here is that because majority of the students facing this hectic course-load happen to be Asian, Asians have become falsely labeled as being \u201csocially awkward\u201d as well.<\/p>\n
However, Sabrina Ren, a grade 12 student, goes perfectly against this \u201csocially awkward\u201d title. While maintaining an average well over 90%, she\u2019s also managed to juggle editing for Graffiti and Pentagon, orienting new students as a P.A.L.s leader, and designing for the fashion show, just to name a few. \u201cMarks are really important to me, but I know it\u2019s possible to do extra-curriculars at the same time. It\u2019s just a matter of time-management.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s undeniable that Asians are very academically focused, and are heavily populated at institutions such as UofT. But the ultimate question now arises: at NT, how much does this unspoken racial dilemma affect our university decision?<\/p>\n
\u201cNot at all,\u201d says Jenny. \u201cUofT is competitive, but at a university ranked in the top 20 world-wide, that sort of competition is inevitable. I don\u2019t think Asians have anything to do with it. I think that some of us are simply intimidated by the intense competition, and are trying to find a scapegoat for it. And at majority of the student body, why not pick the Asians?\u201d<\/p>\n
Tracy agrees. \u201cIdeally, I\u2019d love to leave home and see what\u2019s beyond, but coming from a racially-diverse city like Toronto, I know a lot of Asian students pick UofT because it\u2019s easier for their families. I\u2019m sure UofT can be just as much of a party school; it all depends on what your priorities are. You shouldn\u2019t choose based on generalizations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sabrina adds a similar input, \u201cI\u2019d love to keep doing the activities that I\u2019m doing now, and that shouldn\u2019t matter whether it\u2019s at UofT or at Western.\u201d<\/p>\n
In the end, all three students come to one consensus: their university decisions will rely little on the demographics of the school, and more so on factors such as geographic location, program highlights, unique extra-curricular opportunities, and scholarships.<\/p>\n
\u201cUofT is competitive,\u201d says Jenny, \u201cBut every school will have its ups and downs. The important thing is to not let one smudge ruin the bigger picture.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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