I think this essay by a sixth grader is a pretty good illustration of the differences between how Chinese and Americans view education.

The Events of One Evening

Even today, that night still makes me hurt.

That morning, when we were getting back one of our literature exams from that semester, I was sure I would get a 95 or above. Yet, when I received my test with a smile on my face, I was stunned: 80.5! I rubbed my eyes, not believing that this was my grade.

Deflated, I went home with the test in hand and my head down and hid in my room. I stared at that embarrassing 80.5 and thought it looked like countless pairs of mocking eyes. I understood: My intelligence isn’t low. This 80.5 was all my own doing. I dared not tell mom, worried that this deplorable 80.5 would bring a scolding and beating. But she is my mom, after all. How can I not tell her?

When mom heard, she was stunned at first. Then she exploded like thunder, standing up and scolding me sternly: “I told you countless times to pay attention in class, take careful notes, use your brain. If you don’t understand something, figure it out. Don’t think that … yet it’s in one ear and out the other with you!”

I stood quietly and dared not make a sound; otherwise it’d just be pouring gasoline on fire.

“You’ve already fallen to the ranks of subpar students!” mom continued to lecture me. “Understand?!” At this point, mom’s eyes were like steel and filled tears.

“I understand,” I replied. I can’t stand such a stare from mom, because not only was she dissatisfied with my lack of progress, worse yet, all her hopes and expectations for me were almost destroyed. Tears began to blur my vision.

“If you don’t go forward, you fall back, understand?!” mom continued to scold.

“I understand.” Mom is always telling me, “If you don’t go forward, you fall back”, so much that my ears almost have scabs from it. How could I not understand? However, now I have experienced it. I replied sobbingly, “It means that if you remain … in one spot, others will … catch up, and you will … fall behind.” Then I said in a low voice, “Mom, I’m … sorry.” At this point, I couldn’t hold it together anymore, and tears fell uncontrollably.

“What good does saying ‘I’m sorry’ do?! Nothing!”

“Mom, don’t worry. From now on, I will never slack off. I will never take my studies lightly.”

I wiped away my tears, and my eyes again met with the 80.5, still looking like countless pairs of mocking eyes. But in my heart, I told it, “Don’t gloat! From now on I will never see you again! I will work hard and strive for grades that start with 9!”

I will never forget that day — 1994, March 30.

Sounds pretty harsh, doesn’t it? But that’s just the kind of expectations and pressures kids in China face, even at such a young age, when it comes to their studies. I can still remember the first time I got a 91 in elementary school. It was the lowest grade I had ever gotten, and I was so upset that I cried when I got home. Fortunately, my parents weren’t so harsh. But in a country with so much competition, you can see how every grade can seem so important.