Kali

Thinking of my sister today. Harvard was a singular obsession with my mom during my childhood and it became my sister’s singular obsession throughout her short life. It became my own source of insecurity as a 2.8 GPA Asian (we exist) who sucked at math and standardized tests. Maybe it’s a Gen X thing but she never once felt entitled to Harvard or worried that someone else would “take her spot” because she was in competition with herself. Needless to say, losing her impacted our whole family. In our own ways we all stopped giving a fuck about Harvard. So hello AAPI. I get where the obsession for elite schools as access points to the American Dream comes from. Been there, done that. All this to say this obsession with elite schools without understanding this country’s history makes first generation immigrants easy targets for Edward Blum and friends without knowing who he even is. It’s in their interest to see their fear of “demographic change” fighting each other for scraps because the idea of a more inclusive society for all is happening and it means a loss of control. This is what this SCOTUS win for them was about. So feel how you want but just know that being used as a model minority tool is a choice.