What Tiger Parents Often Overlook About the True Purpose of Education

Across Hong Kong and much of Asia, parents relentlessly strive to secure places for their children at top-ranking universities. Yet one must ask—what happens after graduation? According to a 2020 report by CTgoodjobs HK, 47% of Hong Kong university graduates end up working in fields completely unrelated to their degree. Law graduates become tech entrepreneurs; biology majors pivot to marketing roles. Still, the pursuit of so-called “prestigious universities” remains as fervent as ever.

This reflects a disheartening reality: we have come to treat education as a destination, rather than a journey. Instead of serving as a compass that guides direction, education has subconsciously been reduced to a trophy. Tiger parents often fixate on Ivy League degrees and flawless academic performance, yet seldom reflect on a more fundamental question: Will these choices truly help my child lead a meaningful, fulfilling career and life?

Source: iStock

If your child spends years—or even decades—in a job they dislike, what is the real value of having entered a "top university"? Was the education truly worthwhile? Education should be a source of empowerment, not limitation. A typical undergraduate degree spans 3-4 years, but one’s career may stretch over four decades. It is only logical, then, that higher education planning should begin with career self-discovery.

This issue goes far beyond statistics. In a 2018 speech, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos shared this insightful perspective:

“We all have passions, and you don’t get to choose them — they pick you. But you have to be alert to them. You have to be looking for them.”

“And when you find your passion, it’s a fantastic gift for you. Because it gives you direction. It gives you purpose.”

So how do I discover my true passion? How do I identify what drives me and fuels my motivation?

In today’s fast-changing and competitive world, understanding one’s personality traits and career inclinations has become a vital first step in any meaningful academic or career plan. The Self-Directed Search (SDS) is a professional, data-backed assessment tool grounded in decades of psychological research and enhanced by modern big data analytics. It is built upon the RIASEC model, which categorises individuals into six core personality types based on interests and aptitudes:

Source: Grove Education 

This structured framework not only helps students identify their personal strengths but also proves highly effective in several practical areas:

Rather than placing pressure on students to apply for degree programmes that are traditionally associated with professional qualifications or high-income careers, a more constructive approach would be to ask: Does their chosen subject truly synchronise with their individual strengths and core values? 

The SDS enables students to explore these dimensions early on, helping them avoid being derailed by a 3-4 years degree mismatch that could negatively impact a forty-year career.

Source: iStock

Our message is not to downplay the value of strong academic results or the advantages of entering a reputable university. Rather, it is to encourage a redefinition of success. We believe that educational and career planning should not be based solely on grades or university rankings, but instead stem from a deep understanding of a student’s personality, interests, and values. If a child ends up spending their entire working life in a job that lacks passion or purpose, then even the most prestigious degree may ultimately lead to a career of quiet dissatisfaction.  

Instead of letting subject selection and university admissions become a gamble, we believe that science and data can offer clarity. Book a career assessment for your child today. Using our in-house big data career matching system alongside the SDS test, we help students:

In life and in work, to thrive is always better than to merely survive—every day, every time.