Justin Zhou, Period 7, 1/12/23

Justin Zhou, Period 7, 1/12/23

Modern Mythology 2023

What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?

How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?

Here’s the textbook definition of inequity:

Inequity: 

lack of fairness or justice.

Currently, my definition of inequity manifests itself in the checkbox next to “Asian” on my Common Application.

The definition of inequity extends far beyond the divides between groups of people. It’s not just the racial or religious tensions bolstered by the endless, online spew of hate speech, nor is it just the disparity between paychecks. These forms of inequity have had their time in the limelight and deserved every second of it. But when prevalent issues harbor tons of attention from the media we sometimes lose sight of the smaller, more niche forms of inequity. I’ve recently discovered another form of inequity flourishing under the media’s blind eye, perpetuated by none other than the college admissions process. 

I hold a very unpopular opinion and am not afraid to stand by it. Being Asian means that the goalpost is moved farther away. It means getting into college is no longer a holistic view of your achievements and accomplishments, but rather a skewed competition to prove how “Un-Asian” you are. Being specifically not Asian is an advantage. Online, we’re pressured to have our extracurriculars be sports based and to stray away from the Olympiads because it means you’re just another robot, dehumanized in spite of the effort you may have put in. 

Now currently in the college admissions process, the inherent unfairness of being an “Asian male in CS” is even more apparent. Getting into a top college has become a commodity where exclusivity is commonplace because Asians are stereotypically one dimensional “nerds” who can only excel inside the classroom or on standardized tests. This notion of what Harvard calls a “Low Personal Score” ranks Asians lower than any other demographic. 

Understanding diversity and how Asians also tend to be over-represented in academic institutions is another issue. But having diversity shouldn’t come at the cost of equalizing inequality using racism. My feeds are constantly flooded with questions such as “Is being an Asian male going into computer science a disadvantage?” 

The short answer is unfortunately yes. 

“Holistic” and “interconnectedness” are also thrown around a bit too much. Most students (including myself) have actually come to accept the fact that certain minorities are subjugated to harsher guidelines simply because of their race, and have to just “work harder.” This isn’t holistic. It pressures Asian students to reject their heritage in order to be considered for a spot at a top university. We’ve become acutely aware of what not to be. 

In regard to my own experiences and perceptions, this idea of appearing less Asian as a way to stand out changed how I perceived myself. I was unfortunately a subconscious proponent of appearing less Asian. Despite how much I hate the notion, it has made me who I am today. I quit violin for track and field. I sought out leadership opportunities instead of committing myself to Science Olympiad. In my quest to be less docile and “not a nerd,” I excelled in public speaking while balancing my parent’s expectations of what’s considered “good grades.” It also has shaped how I see my peers. I guiltily pity the “Asian males in CS” knowing the intrinsic disadvantage they’re faced with is incomparable. The real world – beyond the golden gates of the Ivy League – is not much different. 

Despite how this mindset molded me, I steadfastly believe affirmative action is wrong. It has altered my values to avoid a specific stereotype while changing my beliefs about being Asian. Even though I’ve come to accept affirmative action as simply a part of the college admissions process, I refuse to let it shape how I view my heritage and peers moving forwards. I understand the inequity of being Asian, but it's a weight I embrace with pride.