Living up to other’s expectations is difficult for any teenager here but for teenagers in Asian countries is another story.

Growing up in Australia as a Korean-Australian, I have noticed some differences in the expectations I had to meet as an Asian, compared those of other nationalities 

Firstly, I have grown up here expected by my peers, to be the rice munching, bowl haircut kid with perfect grades. I feel as if I’m forced into a stereotype where I’m expected to reach a certain standard. I’m expected to top my class in maths by my peers and if I don’t meet these standards, instantly I’m a ‘bad’ Asian. Being this ‘bad’ Asian, just adds an unnecessary pressure, which I feel like I must fulfil. Unlike for example (I’m generalising here) being Black or Caucasian where getting a lower mark is more accepted.

These pressures are only worse because I’m a teenager as well. With extra hormones causing mood swings, sometimes it feels difficult to survive a day.

Regarding family, they don’t give me as much pressure as most would expect. I have expectations I feel obliged to fulfil. For example, getting at least 85% on every test and to get a high GPA, but they know not to pressure me too much.

I feel like these pressures are nothing I can’t handle and that it only helps me improve my results. But, as an Asian-Australian, I feel as if my pressures and expectations are much tamer compared to those in Asian countries.

Take Korea, for example, where maintaining family pride and contributing to the economy is so important that most students study on average 12 hours a day, (including elementary school students). They attend private academies and receive tutoring to avoid ‘falling behind’ according to many high school students.  The fear of getting into a mediocre university is so great that most students only receive 4-6 hours of sleep a day.

When the expectations become too difficult to handle, many teenagers feel that death is the only way to escape the gruesome pressures. According to a report by Statistics Korea, it shows that the highest reason for death amongst teens and young people is suicide in 2016 for South Korea. The biggest reason for suicide are the pressures, which come from trying to attempt high academics, with economic factors contributing to the issue.

I interviewed Kim Tae-Hyun, a friend from Korea, about his experience of academic pressure.

 ‘It's really stressing sometimes,’ he said. ‘Especially during the exam weeks or when a test is nearing. I know that I'm supposed to give it my all but trying to exert that much effort consistently just makes me want to stop doing everything.’

This information frankly saddens me, thinking that students my age feel that life is too difficult to live due to pressures and expectations, while here, being a teenager is already difficult enough. I can’t imagine what they have to go through.

Although my Asian peers and I will eventually have to face our own type of pressure provided to us through school and students of other races, we can stay reassured that our situation is much better off here than in Korea. For me, even though I have expectation that I must manage, there aren’t any overwhelming pressures I’m facing. I have strong support from my family and friends who not only support my education but also my well-being. I want my Asian peers and future generations to understand that we are truly blessed to avoid a life-threatening problem people from Asian countries experience.