Marcella Oeur is a senior at Lincoln High school. They grew up in White Center/Burien and is currently based in Tacoma. Though not pursuing higher education themself, it was interesting to see their perspective on what it takes to be successful. We're happy to share this different point-of-view and are excited to see where they go post-high school.
How do you identify ethnically?
I identify as Khmer-American.
How would you describe the environment and community growing up and in school?
Growing up in White Center, Burien, and Tacoma, I would say the community and environment was always very diverse. It didn’t really matter who you identified as, everyone got along with each other.
Was there ever a time in your educational journey where you felt behind, misunderstood, or confused because of your ethnic identity?
Yes, I feel like being considered Asian-American, you’re expected to have good grades and overall be the most “ideal” student, and at some point that pressure sort of putting me in a position where I felt the need to constantly prove myself to everyone around me and when I couldn’t do that, it made me feel down. My expectations were to be a “perfect student” soon led me to my own downfall and it just became a cycle.
How has the model minority myth impacted you and your educational experience? Do you think it’s harmful to our community and if so, why?
Yes, I believe it has impacted me and how I view myself in my educational experience. I do believe that it’s harmful to our community because there are not many people who are able to become who they want to be, but who they are expected to be. A lot of Asian-American’s actually live up to the expectations they are given which has nothing to do with their identity, but who they are as a person, so when someone like me who isn’t very good with school or tests, it makes it extremely hard to be okay with not getting all A’s or for not being like my other friends, but because I have put a lot of thought into it, I became okay with knowing that I try my best every day, but others may not be like that. Others may have parents or aren’t able to see that their child may have personal problems and expect only the best out of them, so it makes being yourself very difficult.
What are some barriers you faced in pursuing higher education as a Southeast Asian American?
One barrier that I’ve faced in pursuing higher education as a Southeast Asian American is the limitations. Branching off of the belief that Asian-Americans are the most “ideal students,” I feel like we are expected to pursue higher education. A lot of the Asian-Americans I know, including myself, have either 1st or 2nd generation immigrant parents and because of that, they feel the pressure of needing to support their family by pursuing higher education. I personally don’t see myself pursuing higher education after high school because I believe I can be successful without it. So overall, the common belief of needing to go to college to be successful was a barrier I had to face mentally because not a lot of my friends were doing that and it made me feel like I couldn’t be successful if I didn’t go, but that isn’t true at all.
Do you recall any moment where you felt your ethnic identity was really heightened in a way that made you feel uncomfortable or unseen in an academic environment?
I don’t think I have ever felt like my ethnic identity has ever made me feel uncomfortable or unseen in an academic environment. I think because I’m proud to be Khmer and people see me embrace that, they don’t really make me feel like an outcast. Other Khmer students usually also take pride in being Khmer wherever they go so, it’s not an uncommon thing to see at school for me.
How important of a role do you think higher education institutions have in helping to break the model minority myth? What are some ways you see universities and post-secondary institutions doing that?
I think overall, as our generation grows we have people who are becoming more okay with not being the “model minority” and they choose to pursue higher education because they want to and I think a big part of that is first, being able to. A lot of the expectations we set for ourselves are most likely the expectations our parents have for us, but as we continue to grow, a lot of those expectations are becoming much fainter. Of course, they are still very prominent, but I believe that as a generation we are slowly breaking that mold.
If you were able to receive funding for anything that can impact or affect your experience in pursuing higher education, what would you create?
I think creating more scholarships or a post-high school education program where students can join and receive aid on whether they’d like to pursue college or another post-high school program, then aiding them with their applications, recommendation letters, field trips if possible. Money is a huge thing for many students and I think offering a scholarship or having a program that helps Southeast Asian students with applying for scholarships, and post-high school education would be beneficial.
Why are you pursuing higher education?
I’m not planning on pursuing higher education. But if I was, it’d be because I felt like I needed to, not because I wanted to. Regardless of why you do go through, I believe that everyone should follow what they want and not why they should. otherwise, you’d just be unhappy and I think that doing something you don’t want to do will not make you feel any more successful than another person.
What are some words of wisdom or tips you have for fellow SEAA students who are planning on pursuing higher education?
If going to college or pursuing higher education is what you want and will take you to where you want to be, then pursuing that is what you should do. But you don’t need to pursue a higher education to succeed.
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