3x03: Asian F

Don’t let the title of this episode fool you. This week, Glee brought its A-game. This episode packs an emotional punch, showcases some amazing musical performances, and reminds me of why I love this show. If you haven’t seen the episode, check out TVline.com's Glee Recap and then meet back here for the drama dissection.

This weeks topic is: pushy parents and the pressure for perfection. How's that for alliteration?

Option 1: Doctor, Option 2: Lawyer

Mike Chang’s dad is worried because he got an A-, aka an Asian F, on his chemistry test. He thinks Mike Jr. is getting distracted by glee club.  “Performing is a waste of time,” says Mike Sr., and it won’t help his son get into Harvard. Of course, in Mike Sr.’s eyes, Harvard is the ultimate achievement that will lead his son to a successful career as a doctor or a lawyer.  He believes that “Dancing is something you do at a wedding. It’s a hobby, not a career. There’s no future in it.”

As a student at a top university, I know a lot of perfectionists. Confession: I am sometimes one of them. People are willing to go a long way for the best grades. Because the best grades ensure a successful career as a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer, right?

Well, grades aren’t everything. I mean, yes they are important. But I think that you shouldn’t study just to advance your career. You should study because you want to learn something. You should choose your extracurricular activities based on what you love to do, not on what will get you into Harvard.

Do What You Love

Mike doesn’t want to disappoint his dad, but his true passion is dancing and performing. So he goes behind his dad’s back and auditions for the musical. He delivers a fantastically talented and passionate performance of “Cool.” He says “It’s what I love to do. It’s never going to be a waste of my time.”

But of course, lying to your parents never works. Mike’s mom finds out that he auditioned for the musical, and she is surprisingly supportive. Turns out she had dreams of being a dancer too, but she was too afraid to stand up to her parents. She doesn’t want her son to have to give up his dreams too. And, in what has got to be the cutest and most heart-warming scene of the episode, Mike tells his mom that it’s never too late to achieve a dream, and he gives her a dance lesson.

I loved this storyline, and I loved this scene. What a great message from a mom: “My job is to encourage your dream. Not mine, not your dad’s.” So many teenagers pursue things because they think it’s what their parents want. But a parent should encourage their child to pursue what the child is passionate about. Each kid should get the chance to do what they want and love to do.

Mike Chang went after his dream, and it paid off. He gets the part of Riff in West Side Story!