More Than the Sum of Expectations
By Fatima Shah
“Ugh. Geometry is so pointless.” Addison complained, expertly twirling her pencil on her fingers. It was 6th grade math class. “Hey, Nathan. Solve this for me.” She shoved her math notebook onto Nathan’s desk, and whispered something to her friend Lizzy, who sat beside her. Lizzy’s mouth dropped open, and Addison giggled. I narrowed my eyes.
Lizzy leaned in towards Nathan, and exclaimed in a dramatic stage whisper, “She said she asked you because you’re Asian.”
Nathan, shocked, gestured towards me. “She’s Asian too!”
Addison transferred her notebook from his desk onto mine in one swift motion, and looked at me expectantly.
I glared at her, and said “Addison. You can’t just assume that if someone’s Asian, then they must be good at math. What you said could be hurtful because it puts pressure on us to do well, which is unfair. We don’t want to have to fit into your perfect standards.”
I wish I could tell you that I said that. In reality, I had taken Addy’s notebook and solved the problem for her without a word. But if I had the opportunity to change my reaction at that moment, that’s exactly what I would’ve said.
Often, these moments are brushed off as jokes. They try to laugh it off, saying “it’s just a joke” or “I’m just teasing.” Regardless of intent, the impact still mattered. When I reflect on that day in 6th grade, I realize that by staying silent, I allowed a classmate to continue believing that stereotype was acceptable.
Growing up, I often heard the stereotype that Asians are naturally talented in math or science. While it may have been true that my classmates who were Asian generally got exceptional scores in those subjects, it’s unfair to just assume it must be that way for anyone who’s Asian. This stereotype can lead to unfair assumptions and pressure to perform well academically to fit into a certain standard. To Asian students who excel in the arts or athletics rather than STEM, being grouped into this stereotype could feel invalidating or discouraging.
As a Pakistani myself, it's true that Asian kids are subject to high academic pressure from a young age. But this doesn’t mean that students of other ethnicities can’t excel in STEM fields, nor that Asian kids are guaranteed to show talent in math.
The world we all want to live in today is one with no labels or stereotypes. I try to contribute to that world in small, but impactful ways: by speaking up against unfair comments, or supporting classmates who are excluded or stereotyped. Stopping hate doesn’t always mean large actions. It just needs to start with the courage to say “That assumption is unfair” and choosing not to stay silent.
If Addison had known the real me, rather than the stereotype, then she would’ve known that I was more passionate about writing and English class. Oh . . . and that I had a B- in math at the time.