What's with the constant put down here of hardworking kids as "Striver" kids"?

[Anonymous]

Many people, who are White and have been in the US for generations with well established networks and generational wealth to fall back on when in need, don't understand why recent immigrants want and encourage their children to work hard. The recent immigrants do so because they know that they have no networks or generational wealth to fall back on when in need. All they have is their education, skills, hard work, and savings from living with relative frugality to save them on a rainy day. They know that their children, on growing up, will not be in much different situation than their own. So they emphasize hard work and education in raising their children. Fortunately, for the most part, the children develop same values. For doing so, if people with no understanding label them to be "strivers", so be it. Frankly, it doesn't affect on bit.

I can guarantee you that, for the most part, the recent immigrants of all ages are more law abiding than people who have been here for generations. If one is patient and dig up statistics, I am confident the results will confirm my statement.

[Anonymous]

I'm still not sure what people on this thread mean when they say "striver."

Kind of hard to have a discussion when you can't even agree on terms.

[Anonymous]

Why is this post relevant to college applications?

[Anonymous]

I thought a striver was someone who took academics “too” seriously. That is, they think that taking the toughest classes, getting the best grades, and the best scores will win them the game of life, but they fail to realize that in real/non-academic life sociability, interestingness, teamwork, etc. are also important. When promotions don’t come their way, they don’t understand why, because, after all, they have checked all the academic boxes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There used to be a time when the Protestant work ethic used to be appreciated and emulated in this country.
We used to tell our kids, "No matter what your situation in life, take it in stride and work hard and you will get past the hump"
Now working hard and persevering is an insult?

There is also a racist element to this put down. I've seen it used frequently on Asians. Sad state of affairs.

The irony of this considering "Asian" religions like Buddhism advocate a non-striving approach to life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm still not sure what people on this thread mean when they say "striver."

Kind of hard to have a discussion when you can't even agree on terms.

Have you been mulling this over since April 2019?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm also interested in the definition being used here for "striver." I took it to be a put down by wealthy parents of kids whose future is more or less assured no matter how well they do in school - and to distinguish them from those who have to excel academically to get ahead.

+1 it's the flip side to privilege.

[Anonymous]

lazy stupid people

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get the confusion here. Tracy Flick is fictional and a sociopath, but that's a striver. Strivers usually work hard (whether intending to or not) but most hardworkers are not strivers.

You again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jealousy, and sometimes an outlet for anti-Asian feeling.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jealousy, and sometimes an outlet for anti-Asian feeling.

+1000

I use this term to describe kids (or young adults) who didn’t go to a real prep school, don’t know their way around NE and NY, lack the social ease that comes with privilege, etc., but nevertheless are working very hard to generationally enter that world.

Typically these people have a sort of frenetic pace about them that can be off-putting. They’re also often not appropriately modulated in various ways—too loud, too quiet, wearing a suit when a blazer is called for, asking personal questions or discussing money. That sort of thing.

It’s a somewhat insulting term, but I think it also connotes a degree of underlying admiration. Like “hey there, way to make the best of your situation.” It’s not jealousy at all in my experience. But there is an unfortunate visceral distaste for these people; it can be unpleasant and sort of uncomfortable to be around them. I can’t think of a good analogy,,, maybe something like watching a sweet but not very bright Labrador retriever repeatedly try to fit through a door he’s simply to big to fit through, failing over and again.

I think any alleged racism associated with the term is just coincidence. It just so happens that the majority of this population are immigrants. But I know plenty of privileged POC who exhibit none of these attributes, and plenty of upwardly mobile whites who do (typically scholarship kids of some form or another).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jealousy, and sometimes an outlet for anti-Asian feeling.

+1000

I use this term to describe kids (or young adults) who didn’t go to a real prep school, don’t know their way around NE and NY, lack the social ease that comes with privilege, etc., but nevertheless are working very hard to generationally enter that world.

Typically these people have a sort of frenetic pace about them that can be off-putting. They’re also often not appropriately modulated in various ways—too loud, too quiet, wearing a suit when a blazer is called for, asking personal questions or discussing money. That sort of thing.

It’s a somewhat insulting term, but I think it also connotes a degree of underlying admiration. Like “hey there, way to make the best of your situation.” It’s not jealousy at all in my experience. But there is an unfortunate visceral distaste for these people; it can be unpleasant and sort of uncomfortable to be around them. I can’t think of a good analogy,,, maybe something like watching a sweet but not very bright Labrador retriever repeatedly try to fit through a door he’s simply to big to fit through, failing over and again.

I think any alleged racism associated with the term is just coincidence. It just so happens that the majority of this population are immigrants. But I know plenty of privileged POC who exhibit none of these attributes, and plenty of upwardly mobile whites who do (typically scholarship kids of some form or another).

Frenetic pace is basically the vibe at all the elite schools drooled over on this forum. I have no idea what the slang term striver means but anyone choosing to attend one of these top universities will have to cope with a frenetic pace morning noon and night.

[Anonymous]

Jealous parents of incapable lazy kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It has NOTHING to do with kids who are hard working because they want to truly be. It has everything to do with he force parents put on their kids and how they feel this pressure to do it to not disappoint them.

But who decides which kid is hard working because they want to be versus pressured by parents? In my experience, as an Asian American mom, other parents decided my kids excelled in school because I was a tiger parent. In reality, I was far from it. My kids did the things that they were interested in and learned because they had interests and we went to the library, not because they were in academic classes on weekends. Because their interests were academic and I was Asian American, other parents made up their own narrative. It was isolating and hurtful.

[Anonymous]

Used by Siobhan Roy wannabes who also throw around the word "nouveau riche."