Research, inspired by the publication of Chua’s book, already indicates that tiger parenting does not automatically produce positive educational outcomes for children. Though it is not a common parenting style, even among Chinese-American families, tiger parenting ignited huge backlash from around the world, and almost always for good reason. In her book, Chua lists the various cutthroat measures she imposed on her Yale- and Harvard-educated daughters, including banning sleepovers, receiving any grade below an A or playing any instrument other than the piano or violin. Coined by Amy Chua, an American author and law professor, in her book “ Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother,” the parenting technique prioritizes pushing children toward superior academic performance. “Tiger parenting” is often associated with strict, demanding and controlling behavior. I still don’t think I’ve completely grown out of my 5-year-old self crying at the dining table of my family’s tiny Seoul apartment - a tear-stained math assignment in one hand and a cup of milk in the other. I was constantly comparing myself with my peers: When one of them succeeded, it felt like I had failed. What I have right now isn’t good enough, and I still need to do better. There was always just one more debate competition or one more internship to really turn things around.

Now that the school year is about to end and all my fellow college juniors seem to be off in the real world securing cool internships, I slightly fear the relaxing summer ahead that I have planned - is it okay to just sit back and do nothing for a while?Ĭome to think of it, I cannot remember a single moment where I felt content with my achievements. I felt compelled to join myriad extracurricular activities, and as all sorts of meetings pulled me away from bed and peace, I constantly worried about how I’d somehow get an A+ for the four classes I’d enrolled in. During the past semester in snowy Michigan, however, I don’t think I succeeded in bringing myself to do just that. Being an exchange student from Seoul, South Korea should mean time to relax, have fun and immerse oneself in a foreign country’s culture.

A tiger mother