Her family has high expectations for her and she feels like she cannot compete with her brother and sister. Her family is quick to point out the flaws in her plans.
Example: Her brother's acceptance into Harvard is used as an example of his perfection. (Ng ch. 7)
Response: Lydia’s response is to internally compare herself with her brother.
Stereotypes
Her mother is trying to force the stereotype "because you are Asian, you're good at school" on Lydia.
However...
Her mother brags to her friends how Lydia is a “genius” and is going to skip grades in science, when in reality she is having to beg her teachers not to call her parents because of her failing grade.
This goes hand in hand with racial barriers. The stereotypical language that is used make Lydia think that because she is not smart, that she should not "be Asian".