June 08--A 16-year-old San Marino High School student remained missing Monday, two days after she ran away following an SAT exam because she felt overwhelmed by the test and by school, police said.
There have been no signs of Mira Hu since she disappeared Saturday after being dropped off to take the college admissions exam at 7:30 a.m. at Arcadia High School, said Lt. Vaughn Whalen of the Arcadia Police Department.
When her parents arrived to pick her up, they could not find her, police said, and Mira sent a message to her brother, saying she was running away due to the pressures of school and exams.
On Monday, Mira's peers said they were surprised she ran away, but that they too felt the pressure to excel.
"We don't have time to relax," said Marina Hashimoto, who graduated from the school last week.
Clutching her diploma to her chest, the 18-year-old said she "felt a lot of pressure" from other students and teachers to do well in school during her three years there.
"Most of the students are taking five AP classes," she said. "The tests are hard. There's a lot of Asians and they're all really smart."
The pressure at San Marino goes beyond difficult exams, Marina said. Finals ended Thursday, for example, but students had little reprieve. The SATs followed two days later. Summer school started Monday. The ACTs are Saturday.
"Finals, then immediately the SAT and then summer school? There's so much stress," she said.
Of her friend Mira, she said, "She was really smart. I'm surprised she was overwhelmed by school. I think she took a lot of hard classes."
Marina met Mira two years ago when they were in the same English class, and described her as "nice to everyone, very friendly."
Another San Marino student, Billy Wu, was on campus Monday for a summer-school world history class -- the cost of the school's competitive environment, he said.
Hiking up a flight of stairs, the 15-year-old explained that his parents and older brother encouraged him to take the course.
"I want to get ahead," said Billy, who will be a sophomore in the fall. "My brother is a graduating senior and he said it would be easier if you do summer school."
Billy said there was noticeable pressure to succeed at San Marino High School.
"It's tough," he said as the crowded halls emptied and students filed into classrooms. "There are high standards with parents at San Marino."
Billy said that Mira always strived to be the best student and "would try hard." He said he took speech and debate with her.
"She was very competitive," Billy said. "When she lost a round it would impact her. I feel like it would affect her a lot."
Mira is 5-foot-3, weighs about 95 pounds, has black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a black jacket and black jeans and carrying a large navy-blue backpack.
Anyone with details about her whereabouts is urged to call Arcadia police at (626) 574-5121
Times staff writer Carla Rivera contributed to this report.
UPDATE
June 8, 1:26 p.m.: This post has been updated with comments from classmates of Mira Hu.
This story was originally posted at 10:50 a.m. June 7.
