China. Cultural background - Essay Example

Xi Chen Ewrt 1A Essay 2 Cultural background has always been a very important aspect that affects different people in various ways. As Jay-z`s lyricsstate “No lie, just know I chose my own fate” (Schemerhorn 364). Based on my cultural background, most of the young people in China want to be themselves, not someone else’s shadow. They would like to have the opportunity to seek their own preferences; however, there is a lot of pressure that comes from either family or the society. As everybody knows, China has a huge population, which means it is getting harder and harder for young people to find jobs.

The society offers various opportunities for young people, but there are some differences and different requirements between each social class. Unlike in the United States, people will always be respected no matter what kind of job they do or what kind of lifestyle they choose for themselves. Moreover, many great opportunities are not only offered to people who are well educated but also to those who have working experience. Companies are more focused on personal skills and working experiences more than any other thing.

Education is not the only major consideration for people who want to find a job. On the contrary, professional background and the level of education is a very important condition which can put one in different positions available in China. As a result of pursuing interests by ignoring the competition within the society, the people in China will have less choice than others. Based on some researches, the rate of employment in China increased to over 87% by 2011 (Online). In another words, to “come of age” in China one must complete higher education and study in a more valuable major in order to be more competitive in our society.

Apart from society, family is also an important factor that has a great influence on people. In America, parents tend to support young people in doing the jobs that relate to their interests and young people feel free to choose their own living styles. America is a good place for exploring peoples` talents and relating these talents to their studies. This is however not the way things work in China. Chinese like to plan their futures based on their own experiences and their own thinking for their children and encourage them follow this way of thinking systematically.

In addition, some of the young people are even supposed to accomplish the things, which their parents did not manage to accomplish, a good example was when one of my friends was studying law after giving up the environmental studies that she has been interested in since she was a little girl. The only reason for doing this was that her father had failed to be a lawyer and put all his hopes on her. She had been struggling with her choices for a long time; however, she decided to submit to her father`s expectation.

Being an international student, I have been experiencing the different cultures between America and my own country for almost three years. My way of thinking has changed and I now have some new understandings between the general expectations of society and one’s own choices from “come of age”. I have also noticed that the American and Chinese ways of life are in part not as different as some would have us believe while in some other aspects they are in total divergence. I believe that young people need to take on active part in every sphere of life and become trendsetters, but the society has to provide corresponding mechanisms as a start.

Without outside support, young people cannot change their traditional role and cannot bring freshness and development into their community. For me, I will try to find the balance between the external pressures and my own wishes. I hope that when I finish my studies and start working, I will still have my passion for the activities that are related to my interests. However, to be honest, I would prefer American culture that supports young people in choosing their own “roads” or ways of life with little or no interference.

This is something that is very rare in China and I hope that it will be developed in the near future as China continues to grow and to be influenced by thoughts that are more progressive. The worst thing for me is to be someone else`s shadow, meaning living for somebody else’s expectations. However, we do not have the ability to change a society, the only thing we can do is to adapt and integrate into our societies in order to able to survive. Based on the long standing Chinese cultural background, I hope that we can turn the pressure to succeed into the motivation needed to thrive in the globalised world, as well as to develop our hobbies while ensuring that we have a good living and working environment.

Works Cited Schemerhorn, J.R., Exploring Management. New York, United States: Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated. 2011.Print.