While I certainly agree with Marika that race is deeply entwined with socioeconomic status, I'm not at all surprised or bothered by the example you chose to demonstrate that we don't have diversity of background. Of course we come from homes with parents that push us to succeed academically. Every student at Uni is academically talented (if not, we wouldn't have gotten in) and obviously some of that will come from parental encouragement (or pressure if you want to call it that). In my opinion, pushing your child to take academics seriously is a hallmark of good parenting, and has nothing to do with either race or socioeconomic status.