A Big Fish in A Big Pond

Recent Stanford MBA Grad Jason Jianyu Tu was born in 1989 in a small village 125 miles south of Xian--in what he termed a "sixth-tier city," meaning, "There's a very slim chance you can be successful." (See post one.) His parents, well aware of this, searched for ways out of this small village, and eventually found a path to Xian. (See post two.) The big city of Xian--although only a hop, skip and a jump away--was like a different planet, with buses and fast food and a really tough school. (See post three.) Jason gave up trying to do well in school, instead focusing his energy where his passions lay: guitar and blockbuster movies. (See post four.) While Jason's high school headmaster did not have high hopes that Jason would get a college degree, Jason jumped through hoop after hoop to get accepted to the University of Washington. His only problem? Funding. (See post five.) Thanks, however, to a mass e-mail marketing campaign, Jason found himself accepted to the University of Evansville in Indiana. (See post six.) He was thrilled...until he landed in what felt was the middle of nowhere. (See post seven.) As Jason was one of two Chinese people at the school, he was immediately the expert on anything and everything that had to do with China. (See post eight.) Not only that, but he was soon paired up with an American host family, something he looks back on as a very important part of his life. (See post nine.)

Despite his new family, and the welcoming community of Evansville, Jason "realized that their pace of life was really slow." He knew that he would have to move on.  

"To be professionally successful I have to go to a bigger place. The life in China is surprisingly fast. You have no time to enjoy life, but just to work hard to achieve your goals.  So I didn’t forget my dream of going to a big college.”

Jason applied around—not too far away, as he wanted to be near his American host family. They were bummed by his new plans...as was the school administration.

“People in Evansville really didn’t want me to go. Seriously, I was one of the only two Chinese people there.”

"The head of the International Office came to me and said, ‘You can either be a big fish in a small pond or small fish in a big pond.’ 

"I said that analogy didn’t work for me at all. ‘I want to be a big fish in a big pond.’"

While there was lots of pressure for Jason to stay put, he did receive some support. 

"One of the Malaysian ladies in the International Office said to him one day, 'Jason, you really don’t belong here. You should go to bigger places.'" 

Sophomore year, Jason transferred to Purdue.

A Big Fish in a Big Pond: At Purdue

“It’s kind of sad when you think about it.  The thing that drives you to go to these places also drives the family apart.”

(To be continued. Next: Graduation shock--Open Job Fairs, Closed Company Doors.)