Stress, anxiety, fear of disappointing parents, and constant comparison with peers are common symptoms for students subjected to high-pressure environments within the Asian community.

Education is often viewed as a pathway to success and honor within Asian communities. While it certainly has benefits, the societal expectation to uphold family honor without 'losing face' can lead to the sacrifice of personal interests and social development. This approach is often counterproductive and can have long-term negative effects on academic performance, relationships, health, and quality of life.

Our approach to academic stress involves dispelling assumptions and myths around low performance and redefining the relationship between success, the student, and their family.

It is common within Asian communities for a student's self-worth to be closely tied to their family's happiness. For instance, the belief that "If my parents are unhappy, it's because I wasn't good enough" prevails. Students with this way of thinking are incentivized to succeed for their family rather than for themselves, and can lead to struggles with motivation and concentration, as it's challenging to invest time and energy into something that doesn't personally resonate.

A more effective framework involves shifting from "I am a bad child if my parents are upset" to "I am a good child even if my parents are upset, because the problem lies not with me, but with how I was set up to learn." When our identity is no longer tied to our successes, we start to feel free and empowered to take ownership, problem-solve, tolerate failure, try again, and pursue excellence.