I was thrilled to see our Asian Canadian neighbors making a serious attempt to talk with their communities about the narrow and unhealthy over-emphasis on University education & particular areas of study:
Educators encourage Asian education options
It seems obvious really. It is statistically impossible for the vast majority of Asian young people to all be accepted into "brand name" universities. Also impossible, that those who do get accepted, will all want to be doctors, lawyers, and engineers.
(Oh, OKay, maybe a professor or an MBA would be all right so long as the school was sufficiently fancy.)
There is little use for person in the real world whose only skills are in memorizing textbooks or code. What about civic mindedness, empathy, self reflection, morality, intuition, creativity, independence, bravery, kindness, or charisma?
Forcing young people into ill fitting majors at ill fitting universities is more likely to lead to anxiety and depression than a lifetime of joy. I know many parents push this so hard because they think checking off the list of educational accomplishments is some kind of guaranteed ticket to the good life. It simply isn't so.
I know unemployed Ivy League graduates. I also know fantastically happy, creative, and wealthy State college or community college graduates. I am fond of cheerfully pointing out to clients that I probably never had a 4.0 since Junior high school! They look shocked. I think they are shocked that I would admit such a shameful (gasp!) thing openly, but I also hope they are comprehending my point that lack of academic stardom did not keep me from finding well-paying work whichI love. I never had a stellar GPA because I was busy. Busy with drama, dance classes, friends, volunteer work (and this was before schools required volunteer hours), hiking, traveling internationally, and working part-time. What I lost in grade points I gained in spades in life experience.
Many of my clients who did what they were told to all their lives have made the unpleasant discovery as young adults that they do not know now how to self-direct. And that all their hard work and studying did not make life feel meaningful.
That maybe they should have followed their original dream of being a social worker, actor, mechanic, fireman, chef, or dancer...
Certainly some parents are understanding now the value of balancing a child's humanity with their academic achievements. I am glad that as a community we are dialogueing about this topic. Children are meant to be more than show ponies who are loved only if they fulfill their parents academic dreams.
And planning a child's life path from Kindergarten through graduate school for them is unhealthy. Education, true wisdom comes from living, so let your child truly live.
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