Undergraduate /
The rebelling nerd - I had fulfilled my duty as an Asian kid [30]
@Holt
I didn't pay much attention to the Common App prompts when I wrote the essay. I'm thinking about these two:
Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family.Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?"I feel stupid - and contagious - here we are now - entertain us". Kurt Cobain was shouting into my ears as I spray painted a wall. Hmm, smells like teen spirits. Taking my headphones off, I took a step back to look at my newest artwork between countless others that covered the canvas. It still lacked something. The sight could be called unorthodox: the new captain of an English Language team appreciating vandalism at midnight in the schoolyard.
Last week, when my family threw a party (for the first time in a decade) for their favorite child who just got admitted to the most prestigious highschool in the city, they probably didn't expect this. Looking at my dad's broad smile as he clinked his glass with mine, I doubted that he knew I didn't share much of his happiness. After four years of relentless schoolwork, I decided that I did not want to remember my teenage years as a string of forced 12-hour-study days. I did not want only to please my parents. I got good enough scores, and felt I had fulfilled my duty as an Asian kid. I was going to rebel.
I left the yard to get to the school roof. My satire paintings were not fulfilling, so I tried colorizing my dissatisfaction where it could stand out for everyone to see. And suddenly there was a sobbing guy at the edge of the roof.
My plans halted. I carefully made my way towards him, walking slowly and loudly enough to let him wipe away his tears. He happened to be someone I knew.
"Hey, Khoa."
"Hey Triet. May I settle my behinds in this vicinity?"
He laughed, rubbing his eyes, "you can sit."
It turned out that Triet's high school entrance exam scores were not enough for the best schools in the city, and were definitely not what his parents wanted. Triet's parents had yelled at him constantly ever since the results were released. The last straw was, "You can go away for good", and there Triet was on the roof, about to do as he was told, just like what Vietnamese kids are supposed to do.
I sat there incredulous. Infuriated. Saddened. The story was not new to me. Every year in Vietnam there are articles about students running away from home or even committing suicide because of school pressure. But this was the first time it happened to someone I knew. As a straight-A student, my concerns were the tediousness of schoolwork. It wasn't until talking with Triet that I recognized the effect our school system could have on other people. Many students, like Triet, can do wonderful things like building machines, raising funds for charity, or taking photographs, but their families discourage them if these activities don't help them climb their class rank. Students who fail to get into respectable universities, see the doors to their future closed. If my society continues to promote this heavy, unjust emphasis on scores, the consequences will be grave.
That night, I found what was missing: the true purpose of my "rebellion". My urge to do something did not came from boredom, but rather from a desire to oppose unfairness. I found the right way to channel my passion. With the opportunities, energy and time that I have, I will try to help others, to do something meaningful enough that I can excitedly tell people about when I'm all old and frail. I promised Triet that I would keep challenging injustice - but not on walls anymore. I'll do all I can to keep that promise.
Please reviews my essay. Thank you!
