Growing up, I had all of these expectations set by my parents, my teachers, and my peers. I was one of the smarter students in my classes, I never found my work too difficult, and I spent free time being tutored outside of school to make sure I stayed ahead and my skills were sharp. My parents expected me to do well because they always pushed me to strive to be the very best I could be. Everyone else, however, assumed I would succeed because it was simply expected of “that smart Asian student.”
The Model Minority, as defined by teachingtolerance.org, is a myth based on stereotypes. In relation to the Asian American community, this defines us as individuals with gifted intelligence or skills, strong work ethics, and high obedience towards their elders.