The Impact of College
After receiving primary and secondary education in China for twelve years, my
parents sent me to the United States for higher education with a lot of effort and a lot of money hoping that an American diploma could serve as a golden ticket for my future. However, what welcomed me at the moment when I stepped in to the University was more than just orientation leaders. In fact, I was also welcomed by many differences in culture, education systems, and values. Although I only have been exposed to American education style for over a year, I have found myself to have a completely new understanding of the value of education and the importance of critical thinking. I have also become a more independent person.
found out that my parents were nice to me by not forcing me to get tutoring from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. or getting different companies to train me for my SATs (Yang). During an interview with one of the Chinese international students at / (who I will call Peter) told me that he did not even attend school regularly during the last year of his high school, instead, he was attending tutoring classes for ACT and TOEFL. When I asked him if he used an agent for his application, he asked me: “Doesn’t everyone use agent to apply to U.S. colleges?” He continued, stating how Chinese parents like to prepare everything for their children. “Find an agent for college application, find an agent for graduate school application. And when most of us go back to China, they can use relationships to find us a job. But I don’t like the feeling that everything is set for me, I want to live my own life.” My parents are typical Chinese parents just like the ones described by Peter. If I was being reluctant to live my own life when I first came to, I certainly share the “I want to live my own life” perspective now after studying at for a while.
While a lot of people may criticize that chinese teaching style is didactic and traditional, resulting in students being recipients of knowledge and excessive parents interference, I have to say that I do not totally agree on the statement. I used to hate the atmosphere of studying in China before I got to the United States. Back in my high school, more than 40 students sit in fixed spots with books piling in front of them, submerging them under the wall of exams behind which they take notes of what the teachers delivers. Teaching is a one-way process without much interaction. Teachers for every subject like to give their students many repetitive practice problems, and they
always say: “Today’s homework just takes you two hours, not too much,” without realizing that at least four other teachers from different subjects have just set the same requirement, cramming the students with tons of homework. They believe practice makes perfect, so the more practice students do, the more adaptable they will be in exams. According to Stephanie Yang’s “ The unbelievable things some Chinese students are doing to get into US colleges, ” the rigorous exam that determines where students end up in college called GaoKao. The exam is “the cause of pressure, stress, and occasionally cheating among test takers ” (Yang). Surprisingly, I did appreciate the “pressure cooker” education style in China. I believe that my primary and secondary education set a strong foundation for my higher education. Prior to my experience at \, I thought there would be the ultimate perfect education system. However, after studying in the United States, I found myself becoming a multicultural-learner where I could use my learning skills from China as my foundation while adapting to new education styles here in the United States. I spent the time I saved from my college math course to improve my English writing and reading skills. At the same time, I also felt mind opening when I participated in the education system in the United States.
Rather than an escape from the competitive Chinese education stated in “The Parachute Generation” by Brook Lamer, my parents sent me to the United States hoping that my higher education experience would serve as a “golden ticket” to my future. In fact, I think their hope came true, as I find the education here helping me to gain critical thinking skills, and thus helping me become a more independent person. Higher education in America style focuses on the skill of critical thinking and problem
posing, and as a result, students can think and act independently. As a college student myself here at /, I can totally see the difference between a Chinese education and American education. In college, I have my own voice and can have a conversation with my professor to have a better understanding of the subject. The knowledge here is taught in a way where the teacher and student work together to become aware of the reality around the m. My critical thinking skills are brought to a higher level as I’m allowed and encouraged to have my own ideas, at the same time, I am openly accepting different kinds of perspectives. Critical thinking skills allow me to think on my own, and have my own creative ideas. With the use of critical thinking I may think about the issue or problem I’m facing instead totally depending on others to make the decision for me. Thinking and making decision independently is crucial in life. Thus, the critical thinking I develop through education is not only academic but an elevated, intellectual life skill.
I had a talk with my parents when they wanted me to transfer to another /s with a higher ranking with the help of application agency. For a long time, I was very obedient towards my parents’ decisions, whether it was about after school activities, education, or my job in the future. However, after studying at /, I found myself for a first time standing in a rebellious position. Fortunately, my parents were understanding. Using my critical thinking skills, I told them that a ranking of the school does not mean everything, and I do love the school that I am in right now. I also express that I would try my best to get in a outstanding graduate school, and that I will find a future career that really suits my independent interests and passions. Although they were shocked at first,
my parents did tell me that they were glad to see me growing up in college and holding true to me.
All in all, while it did cost my family a lot of money for me to receive higher education in the United States, the experience I got and the development I went through seems to be totally worth it. By studying here at /, I have found that I understand the crucial value of education and have become a more independent person with better critical thinking skills. I am starting to feel more like an adult in college, this is where I am able to make my own decision, hold my own values, and live my own life. As I continue to study in the United States, I hope that all the changes that happen are positive so that I do not waste my parents’ money, hope, and my life.
Works Cited
Chinese International Student Peter. Personal Interview. 14 Oct. 2017.
Larmer, Brook. “The Parachute Generation.” The New York Times , The New York Times, 2 Feb. 2017,
www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/magazine/the-parachute-generation.html?_r=0 . Yang, Stephanie. “The unbelievable things some Chinese students are doing to get into
US colleges.” Business Insider , Business Insider, 27 Feb. 2015, www.businessinsider.com/chinese-students-go-to-crazy-lengths-in-us-university- applications-2015-2.
kylecs14
exampleforprompt1.docx
0
