A discussion on the pressures of Chinese American youth. S. Hamilton, MA: Center for Youth Studies.

"You have the A, but where is the plus?" cries the first generation Chinese American parent to her daughter. "When I was studying in China, we used to take needles and stab ourselves in the leg to keep awake and study more," recalls a father to son in Chinese, "You can never be finished with studying!"

A hard working attitude is admirable and can be found in any race of people or ethnic group, yet in the Chinese (and Asian) American culture it is exceedingly present. Why? Because of the rigorous academic structure overseas and an unstoppable, cultural work ethic.

A second generation Chinese American is one born in the United States, but whose parents (the first generation) were born and lived overseas in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, or in any Southeast Asian country. Some of these parents with children born from the 1960s to 1980s may have been born in China, but fled the country because of the Japanese invasion of World War II or the Communist Party takeover. It is likely that these people left their second home to come to the United States for academics. Frequently, these adults are in an upper or upper-middle social-economic class, live in the suburbs, and are professionals in engineering, technology, or medicine.

These parents come from a land where culture is driven by honor (the idea of "saving face") and where the family and community always come first. Excellence in academics, then, is not just about developing one’s own mind, but about bringing the greatest achievement—honor to the family. Anything less than the best is a reflection on how little you care about your parents and all they have done for you.

Many of these parents went through life with a clear expectation that good things come through a simple cause and effect relationship. From birth, there is emphasis on discipline, training, and tutoring, in order to enroll them in the best elementary school, that they may be accepted to the best middle school, to get to the best high school, in order to be accepted to the best university, and finally to get the best job. Each step is dependent on consistent studying, good grades, and excellent scores on standardized exams.

As a result, even in America, a first generation Chinese American tends to stress nothing less than perfection for the child, especially in academics. With a good understanding of college entrance requirements in the United States, many parents have shifted the pressure they place on their children to not only academics, but excellence in musical and athletic abilities. Most forms of entertainment and involvement in social clubs or activities are only considered distractions and without much worth, except perhaps as a reward for achievements.