Capstones
Graduation Date
Fall 12-31-2015
Grading Professor
Jan Simpson
Subject Concentration
Arts & Culture
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Abstract
Anne Cai always joked that, “one of these days,” school was going to drive her to insanity. A snapshot of her life begged to differ. As the oldest of three daughters in her traditional Chinese American family, Anne, 23, was the image of success and achievement, not only for her parents and their peers, but for her sisters Jenny, 19, and Vicky, 13. She excelled in elementary, middle and at all three of her high schools—the high school moves were decided by her parents and she never questioned them, lest she burden the family with what she considered complaining.
Recommended Citation
Ewart, Asia C., "You're Only As Good As You Do In School: Asian American Students and the Mental Risks They Face in Higher Education" (2015). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gj_etds/125
Yuvana frequently stared out this window in the midst of her anxiety attacks. December 4, 2015. Bayside, NY. Asia Ewart.
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Yuvana's coursework in preparation for her degree in education led to a Zoloft prescription. December 4, 2015. Bayside, NY. Asia Ewart.
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Yuvana experienced anxiety at both Queens College and Queensborough Community College. December 4, 2015. Bayside, NY. Asia Ewart.
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Yuvana hopes to overcome her anxiety in her new academic environment. December 4, 2015. Bayside, NY. Asia Ewart.
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Anne is preparing for a final presentation at the Fashion Institute of Technology. December 12, 2015. Manhattan, NY. Asia Ewart.
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Although she is pursuing a degree in economics at Stonybrook University, she's enrolled in FIT as a non matriculating student. December 12, 2015. Manhattan, NY. Asia Ewart.
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Anne has battled depressive symptoms brought on my academia throughout her life and is fighting to overcome them. December 12, 2015. Manhattan, NY. Asia Ewart.
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Her depressive symptoms, she explains, were brought on by a childhood and adolescence of harsh expectations in school and by her parents. December 12, 2015. Manhattan, NY. Asia Ewart.
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Her symptoms began to worsen in college when she transferred from Queens College to Stonybrook University and couldn't handle the harder workload, the competitive nature of the students, and the aloofness of the professors. December 12, 2015. Manhattan, NY. Asia Ewart.
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Her mental unrest reached a peak when she had a panic attack in her car after failing a required class. December 12, 2015. Manhattan, NY. Asia Ewart.
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Today, Anne is on the path to stabilization after finding a support system in her cousin Irene and learning to decide her career path for herself. December 12, 2015. Manhattan, NY. Asia Ewart.
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She currently works as a secretary at a children's clothing company and hopes to work for a larger fashion house in the near future. December 12, 2015. Manhattan, NY. Asia Ewart.