As a white, middle-class male who plans to go to college to study medicine, I believe there are numerous classmates that will offer me a chance at learning from both within and without the formal classroom environment. Ideally, I would prefer to enrich my own development from interaction with an Asian classmate who is also studying medicine.
My potential classmateÆs name is Cheng. Cheng is from Hong Kong originally, emigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 12-years-old. Cheng offers me a variety of learning opportunities both within and without the formal classroom environment. Within the classroom environment, Cheng is very studious, responsible, and success driven. His father owns a successful importing business in China and Cheng hopes to become the first family member to become a doctor. He believes he owes his father and family a great deal, for the sacrifices they have made that have allowed him to study in the U.S. Such a perspective makes Cheng takes his academic studies quite seriously, including always doing his homework, spending time in studies outside of class, and always being diligent and responsible about his studies and learning. This is a good role model for me, as many people believe college is a time to party, enjoy sports, meet girls, and relegate studies to a secondary position of importance. ChengÆs discipline, ambition, and drive will fuel these qualities in me.
Because of ChengÆs Chinese background, he will offer me a great deal of opportunity to learn outside of the formal classroom environment as well. From him I will learn that different cultures have different values, different morals, and different religious beliefs from my own culture. I will be able to see how Asians are often highly skilled at social interactions, even though they present a style that is much less open and aggressive than most Americans. I will also be able to enjoy learning a
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