The stereotype of Asian parents very passionately wanting their children to get good grades is true for many people. I happen to be one of these people, my parents have always told me that I needed to get all A’s so that I could get into a good college to get a good job and make a lot of money when I’m older. They would send me to tutoring over the summer and if I ever got a low score on a test I would be punished. Its pretty stressful and takes a lot of hard work to succeed like they want me to in school, but is it really worth it?

I do understand the importance of an education and how a degree could greatly help a person get a job. I don’t think people should drop out of school unless they have other reasons besides not wanting to do the work. But why possibly waste your childhood, drowning yourself in studies. My parents would say better grades, better college. That’s true but you’re also not for sure gonna benefit from going to a great college that costs a lot of money. Sometimes people are able to get higher paying jobs because of a better degree but for many other cases it doesn’t matter. Why not go to a community college and become an intern to gain experience instead?

Not to sound arrogant but I would say I think I’m a decently smart kid. I’m no genius but can usually grasp most topics in school without too much difficulty and have some tough classes. Doing all of the work and studying well often takes up all of a student’s free time and it doesn’t take long to get burnt out. Now, I’m not saying I do these things. Admittedly, I am incredibly lazy and do the bare minimum to satisfy my parents’ expectations. I am very unproductive and it shows sometimes in my work or test scores. Despite this, I still often times need to work for hours in a row to finish assignments on time and it is tiring. Every time you just want to give up, drop it all, and hop into bed.

Personally, I believe its completely dependent on the individual. If you’re a genius and can breeze through school or are just fine with the work load, go for it. Some people are very social and enjoy going out with friends or have other hobbies, which they can’t do with school. I think its a matter of who you are and what you enjoy doing. Of course you should always try in school but if it gets too rough just relax and take a breather. There are many things you can do to relive stress. Talk to friends, listen to music, even drop some classes if you have to. Find a balance where you work but are genuinely happy with your life.

“Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form and invincible host against difficulties.” – Helen Keller