“Growing up as an Asian child, I’ve always felt the weight of my parents’ expectations.”
It’s a weight that sometimes feels unbearable, like it’s crushing my own dreams before they even have a chance to breathe.
My mom, who’s deeply traditional, has a very clear idea of what my life should look like.
In her eyes, it’s a familiar, comfortable path—going to a local university, landing a stable 9-to-5 job, marrying someone from Singapore, and settling down to live a conventional life.
She’s only ever wanted to protect me from the risks and uncertainties she sees in the world, but it feels like her dreams have become this rigid plan that I have to fulfil.
I understand where she’s coming from but her plans for me are suffocating.
