Blog 3 by Hannah Ng (Section A02)

As I read “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in California: How Higher Education Diversity Benefits Our Communities,” I realized that a majority of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) college students that I know are more focused on meeting the expectations set by our environment and society due to the “model minority myth,” and are unaware of the struggles that many AAPI students have to go through. For example, the article states that there are low college admission rates for Pacific Islanders and that they have one of the lowest percentage rates for college degree completion. Because of the vast diversity within the Asian community, our society has grouped all Asian ethnic backgrounds into one general category—which causes us to be blinded of the different situations and difficulties that all AAPI students deal with. It would be beneficial for the educational system to realize that all cultures and ethnicities have students that both can thrive and others that need more guidance/assistance. Success depends on each individual’s hard work and effort and it is unfair for AAPI students to not have fewer opportunities or access to help because of the “model minority myth” that implies that AAPI’s have the natural ability to thrive. Should AAPI’s be proud of the model minority myth?