The Tiger Mom and the Ivy League

My mom, a total hard-ass, drove me to become a valedictorian.

The day the scores came out, everyone was praising her parenting, saying she deserved to relax in her old age.

The local news came to interview her, and she didn't hold back, sharing her "wisdom."

"Spare the rod, spoil the child, right? It works for geniuses too."

The whole town was celebrating my success with parades and everything.

But I left a note and climbed onto the roof.

You wanted the Ivy League? I got it for you. Let me off the hook next time around.

...

My mom had a Ph.D. from a state university, and my dad had a Master's from a good school.

When I was born, I could say "Mama" and "Dada" by seven months, and I was walking at eight.

Everyone said I was a natural prodigy, destined for Harvard or Yale.

My mom thought so too.

She even changed my name to "Ivy" as if I were already accepted. She became obsessed with this goal.

From age three, when I could barely hold a crayon, I was in preschool all day and then back home memorizing poems until ten at night.

Other kids were out in the neighborhood, running wild and playing.

I was jealous. I'd stare out the window at them, practically drooling.

When Mom caught me, she boarded up the window and killed any idea of the outside world.

She'd smack my hands with a ruler, looking down her nose at me.

"Those kids have already lost the race, they're not going anywhere. You're not going to be dragged down by them."

Relatives told my mom to have another kid, to not waste the good genes.

She was firm.

"My time and energy are all for Ivy. She's going to the Ivy League, and I can't be distracted."

She'd turn to me and say, "Your mom's making all these sacrifices for you, betting everything on you. You have to get in."

When I started elementary school, Mom got even worse.

I'd be doing the extra work she gave me until early in the morning, not getting enough sleep.

I'd often fall asleep doing homework. She'd stand behind me, tap me with that thin ruler.

"Sleeping? All you do is sleep! You're not sleeping until you finish these questions."

I'd cry but never refuse.

Before long, my eye bags were bigger than my eyes.

Relatives couldn't stand it. They said Mom was crushing me and that it'd end badly for her.

Mom just yelled that they were jealous she had a genius for a daughter.

The relatives told my dad, who worked out of state. He couldn't do anything.

He just told them to not get involved.

They eventually gave up, saying my whole family was nuts, and it was bad luck to get mixed up with us.

My mom was thrilled with that.

She'd stand behind me with the ruler, making sure I did my work.

"Now no one can bother us, and no more slacking."

The stack of workbooks next to my desk kept growing until it was taller than me, and I felt exhausted.

After elementary school, I got into the best middle school in the city.

New place, no one knew me.

That's how I made my first friend.

Her name was Sarah, and she sat next to me....