Reported about 1 year ago
Is it necessary to attend prestigious schools for further education? This may be a question of supply and demand. Wanting to enter the 'elite class' through mainstream means, getting into a top university seems to be a standard requirement. In Taiwan, if you can't get into a prestigious school, you can spend money on cram schools; many parents hope this 'investment' will help their children improve. However, a documentary, 'Strategy of American High School Students for Top Universities,' presents the phenomenon that persists among Asian parents who immigrate to the United States and still push their children to focus on entering good universities. In California's prestigious high schools, every young student faces immense pressure. Being in constant competition for acceptance into elite universities, the pressure only increases after enrollment. For many Asian immigrant families, leaving their homeland is for their children to have a 'better' future and to enter the 'elite' class of society, where getting into top universities is the basic requirement. It seems that no matter if you're in the US, putting parents' expectations first is a common struggle for Asian children. Although their GPA on average is 4.0 and their SAT scores are close to perfect, the chance to get into a prestigious university like Stanford is only 20%. This high school is not just tough for American teenagers; Asian students also feel high pressure and frustration. Fighting for scholarships due to financial reasons and fulfilling parents' expectations further complicates the students' journey toward college. These Asian students strive to break free from the stringent expectations and find their own identity, but the battle between family values and personal desires is inevitable. In Taiwan, despite different university entrance systems, if you can't enter a renowned high school, various cram schools are available as choices too. The pressure to excel in these environments suggests that compromising one's personal happiness for others' satisfaction is a common theme. Although parents see themselves as investors, not every child may meet their expectations. Achieving success comes with a price, but it does not guarantee happiness. Living a fulfilling life and knowing oneself require more than just attending a prestigious school or cram school. Learning, growing, and finding one's true purpose are lifelong journeys that cannot be rushed or bought with money.
Source: YAHOO