Asian Stereotypes In My Academic Career

When I was a child, my parents always encouraged me to be authentic. Born in India and adopted at birth, I was unique among my classmates. This uniqueness would soon play a prominent role in my academic career.
In middle school I became aware of the Asian stereotypes- Asian students are highly competitive as well as intellectual prodigies in academics and the arts. I was stunned that Asian students were labeled with these stereotypes regardless of their veracity. I had been aware of the growing number of Asian families moving to our suburban Philadelphia area for better jobs and high quality education. Suddenly, I fell into that same mold. I was a part of that Asian . This stereotype masked my struggle with mild dyslexia and undiagnosed ADHD, resulting from severe anxiety due to testing.
It was like I was in a small rowboat in the ocean during a massive storm. A rogue wave was coming towards me; I desperately rowed the boat against the current. Unfortunately, the enormous wave swallowed me whole. …show more content…
For quite a while, I resented their involvement. I felt I should figure it out on my own. I believed that being independent was stronger than asking for help. Gradually, I gave in and allowed others to assist me with my schoolwork. The first step I needed to take to improve my grades, was to accept failure. It was a harsh reality for me as well as an emotional adjustment. I became aware of people willing to help me achieve my goals. It was like a tugboat pulling my rowboat out of the vast ocean, saving me before that enormous wave swallowed me whole. Though it was reassuring to have help, I felt frustrated. I felt incompetent. Teachers seemed obligated to help their struggling student. I was capable of doing things; I just needed a little help getting back on my feet. I realized that failure was a new beginning, all the while hearing the Asian stereotype play over and over in the back of my