It certainly was... At least it was for the traditional Chinese family. I have a handful of cousins that grew up with that traditional mindset that they should focus on education above all else. Unfortunately for me, my family was a dysfunctional family where my mom have health related issues and my father that grew up on the rough side and always be doing his own thing. It also doesn't help that we moved nearly every year during grade school to communities without much Asians let along Chinese.

Being that new kid and a Chinese kid that was seen as weak, I was often picked on. I even got picked on by girls in 2nd grade as well. Got fed up one day and just thought fuck it and went nuts in 3rd grade. Still remember that SOB that bullied me, Patrick, and got away with it but not that one day. He cut in front of me and shoved me in a line. Something just switched inside me, and I was never really a violent kid, if anything, was kind and friendly before we immigrated to the states. Out of the blue, I straight up grab him by his throat with enough force that he cannot breath and left strangle marks on his neck afterwards. Didn't let go until he was on the floor, crying and looked with despair in his watery eyes. Realized how pathetic these bullies were once you fight back. Did get suspended for over a week, parents had no idea as I just go somewhere during those suspensions. From that day on, I would fight back, win or lose, no one would bully me after I fought back. So.... got suspended every year up till high school, and somehow worked best for me.

Nowadays I don't look for fights and haven't had a fight since high school, and have confidence in myself; whereas, my cousins are skittish with confrontations and doesn't have that rougher experience that allows me to take risk in life. It's definitely glorified and I would not wish my kids to have my path as I considered myself extremely lucky to make it here without going to jail/ prison as I was presented with shitty options such as robbing someones house and etc.. Guess I never had that in me, but growing up in the rougher side does bring these shitty options that could escalate pretty fast.