Conforming to and Subverting the Stereotype

“We’re so smart”

Conform:

It is true that the Stuyvesant population lives up to many of society’s typical markers of intelligence: Our standardized test scores are much higher than average and the colleges attend are generally highly selective.

Subvert:

However, societal markers like these ignore the intricacy and diversity of intelligence represented at Stuyvesant. Not every Stuy student fits the mold of hard-working and academically high-achieving. Almost all of us have at least one weak subject and many of us don’t maintain a high average, or struggle on standardized tests. There are subjects and topics in which we flourish (though are sometimes undervalued, such as social or artistic intelligence), and subjects where we feel as though we don’t live up to Stuyvesant’s expectations.

Test-Oriented:

Conform:

Tests are known to be a big part of a Stuyvesant student’s life, but some go as far as to say we are defined by them. Of course, this is not a stereotype without merit; every day, the Dear Incoming Facebook groups are flooded with posts from students asking how to do well on so-and-so’s test and study guides shared by overachieving individuals. In fact, one of Stuyvesant’s biggest organizations, ARISTA, encourages its members to upload study guides for all students to use. This drive for doing well on tests is eminent throughout Stuyvesant culture.

Subvert:

However, tests are far from defining Stuyvesant students. Boasting over 200 clubs and pubs and 32 varsity teams, Stuyvesant encourages students to participate in extracurriculars that range from the Photography Club to the cross country team. SING!, one of the events students are most passionate about, shows we can enjoy school without being consumed by exams.

Emotionless:

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Students may seem emotionless, as seen by the lack of school spirit and the sense that we don’t care for each other outside of our friend groups. If a physics test fell on the day after a homecoming game, most students would choose to stay home and study; in fact, even if there were no tests, most students still wouldn’t go.

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Still, students are often empathetic and supportive, as shown through organizations like Big Sibs, where upperclassmen advise underclassmen, and the Dear Incoming Facebook groups, which are full of support and advice.

Cut-throat Environment

Conform:

Stuyvesant has gained a reputation as a cutthroat environment where students frequently aim to undermine each other to further their own academic success. While it may be true that almost all Stuyvesant students strive to academically achieve, this generalization ignores the fact that support can be found for all who seek it at Stuyvesant.

Subvert:

Class Facebook groups abound for students looking for guidance and homework help, and services such as ARISTA and the Writing Center offer further student-sponsored help. Students truly root for each other’s success and celebrate each other’s victories, as evidenced by the true sense of community following college acceptances.

STEM-y

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On the first day of school, it is not uncommon to hear stories of summers spent volunteering at hospitals, coding, or working at labs from fellow students. This emphasis on STEM has become a key aspect of Stuyvesant’s reputation and is confirmed not only by the rigorous STEM related courses Stuyvesant offers, but by students themselves. In fact, according to the recent freshmen survey conducted by the Spectator, 52.1 percent of freshman currently want to enter a STEM-related field.

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However, while in name Stuy might be regarded as a STEM-heavy school, in reality, the humanities play a just as important role in student life. One need only look at the English department, which is arguably the strongest at Stuy, to see the administration places a huge emphasis not just on STEM, but on creating well-rounded students. Even the students undermine this stereotype. From the intensity with which students commit to the arts during SING! to the fact that the four largest organizations at Stuy, Speech and Debate, The Spectator, Big Sibs, and the SU, are humanities oriented, it is clear that while Stuyvesant does provide ample opportunities for STEM-oriented students, humanities are taken just as seriously.

Condescending

Conform:

Stuyvesant students are often proud that they are part of the top three percent of SHSAT takers. However, sometimes this pride manifests itself in the form of condescension. Stuyvesant students commonly joke about our next door neighbor, BMCC. On report card day, students can be heard lamenting that they’ll “only get into BMCC.” Students who gain admission to SUNY universities often denigrate their future school.

Unfortunately, this stereotype is largely true within the student body. However, we should keep in mind that the SHSAT was only one exam, and that we should avoid outwardly projecting our sense of superiority to students of other high schools and colleges.

“Everyone” is Depressed

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Stuyvesant students are overwhelmingly conscious of their mental health, often taking mental health days to relieve pressure. Several students have been hospitalized for emotional or mental instability, and some even transfer schools. The necessity of having extensive mental health support (SPARK, a social worker, etc.) is evidence of our community’s ongoing battle with depression.

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Despite this, it only takes a day at Stuyvesant to see that the average student finds something to love here. There is a distinction between stress and depression.

Just Another Quiet Asian

Conform

Everyone knows the “quiet Asian kid.” The one who takes the back seat in the classroom, shuffles in and out wordlessly, and ducks his or her head when the teacher looks for volunteers. When these students walk across the stage at graduation, their peers question whether they even attended Stuyvesant. There is a hint of truth in the notion that Asian students seem to be meek, quiet individuals who get lost in the crowd, otherwise known as the “quiet Asian” stereotype. Many traditional Asian families do choose to emphasize values of respect and quiet reflection, which, when translated into a school environment, tend to manifest themselves in observant, but quiet students.

Subvert:

Yet attributing the stereotype to culture or upbringing alone is an incredibly parochial way of looking at Asian students. Look more closely at the 74 percent Asian population at Stuyvesant and you will see students actively subjugating the quiet Asian stereotype by pushing themselves to raise their hands, try out for the debate team, and apply for leadership positions. In this sense, the debilitating stereotype becomes a challenge that Asian students rise to meet and overcome. However, we should not devalue students who do “conform” to this stereotype. From the classroom where participation determines up to 20 percent of your grade, to a society that values who you know over what you know, the “quiet Asian kid” faces an uphill battle. At a school so predominantly Asian, we should be the first to take steps to not perpetuate this discrimination and acknowledge these students as valuable members of our community.

Cheaters

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The cheating scandal in 2012 sent a shockwave through not only the Stuyvesant community, but through New York City public schools as a whole. As a result, Stuyvesant has received a poor reputation when it comes to academic honesty, and this year’s senior survey doesn’t help that stigma, as 70.9 percent of the class of 2018 has admitted to participating in some form of academic dishonesty.

Subvert:

However, Stuy is not alone when it comes to this fact. Students throughout New York City public schools routinely cheat, but it’s the academic prestige of Stuyvesant that makes it a larger and more publicized issue. The rigorous curriculum and competitive atmosphere at Stuyvesant bring out the worst in many, but that doesn’t mean 70 percent of seniors, or the entire school, are defined by this.