A TOEFL Independent Essay: Who enjoys life more, the young or the old?

The following essay was written in 30 minutes, the time allotted to write the Independent Essay in the TOEFL. The writer, Aisse Sow, is from the Netherlands and took the TOEFL Preparation course at NYLC as she may decide to apply to U.S. universities in the future. To learn more about Aisse, visit our main blog after you read her essay below.


Young people enjoy life more than older people
by Aisse Sow

I agree with the following statement: young people enjoy life more than older people. I think young people enjoy their lives much more than older people for the following reasons. First of all, most young people have fewer responsibilities than older people. Second of all, younger people usually have more freedom than older people. And third of all, younger people have time to discover who they really are.

Most young people have (a lot) less responsibilities than older people, such as a fulltime job, children you have to take care of, maintaining good contact with your busy friends, working out, resting, keeping your house clean and the list goes on. These are all tasks and responsibilities a lot of young people have nothing to do with, yet. All the stress that comes with the responsibilities is obviously not making people happier and that is why younger people are definitely happier when it comes to this point.

A TOEFL Independent Essay: Do the young enjoy life more than the old?

This Independent Essay by Jesus De Luna was written within 30 minutes in class during a TOEFL writing task. To learn more about Jesus, please visit our main blog after reading his essay below.


Essay on who enjoys life more, the young or the old
by Jesus De Luna

Life is full of special and unforgettable things, which make it beautiful. Do all people, regardless
of their age, enjoy these things equally? Sadly, age is an important factor on this matter. Young people can get all the benefits that life offers, hence they do enjoy life more. Not only do the young have better health and more energy than the elderly, but they also have more people by their side. In addition, young people experience the diverse pleasures of life for the first time, which increases the power of these feelings.

The young have better health than the elderly. One of the main goals in any person’s life is to
acquire and maintain  good health. Unlike the elderly, the young do not need to struggle too much to lead a healthy life. Moreover, young people are less likely to suffer from some diseases that affect the elderly at a higher rate. People in their twenties are the epitome of an energetic human being. The elderly on the other hand, have less vigor as their age increases.

High Intermediate Category Winner

High Intermediate Category Winner - Andrea GonzalezSchool: 

School: NYLC - Jackson Heights

Teacher: Samantha Lee

Technology: Double-Edge Sword

   Through the following essay I seek to discuss the current problem that exists with technology and communication, and from my personal experience what obstacles the technology has caused and helped me to solve. Finally I propose a possible solution to the progressive deterioration that technology has caused in our society.

     Technology is known as the set of knowledge and techniques used for creating tools and processes that transform the environment. Currently this term plays a key role in our society, because its development is causing rapid changes in communication. These include the creation of new relationships, maintaining contact with people from anywhere and access to knowledge. Technology has removed barriers allowing this to be easier and cheaper. On the other hand it is not a secret that the use of technology has been replacing real interactions with the people around us and has even limited our productivity. Then it becomes paradoxical knowing that we created the technology, it is to our service and we can control it, but it still continues to cause major global problems and contributes to social destruction. Therefore it is necessary to create awareness of the proper way it should be used.

     As referenced above, the technology can be considered a weapon, double-edge sword, because it can help you and at the same time harm you. It just depends on the way you use it.The question arises: how can technology create problems and at the same time help to solve them?

     From my personal experience, technology has been very useful because it has helped me with little things like getting up every day to go to school. I don’t know what would I do without alarm clock. It has allowed me also to communicate with my family in Colombia, through application such as Skype, which allow my overprotective mother see what I am doing. To my surprise she has learned to use an app tracks my location through cell. One day I asked my mom if I could go out with my friends to time square, she said yes, but to be safe, she used the app and realized I was in a club in Manhattan. Of course I was in big trouble and the worst thing was that, when she called to scold me, my boyfriend heard the whole conversation.

     Nevertheless, not everything is bad, because many times I got out of trouble, when I forgot to do a task that had been assigned. Immediately I used my cell phone to do it; the only problem was the use of self-correction programs. The best thing was that I recently found a job through websites that offer job opportunities

     In conclusion a new generation of communications technology is approaching, and with that a new way of living and working, which is why we should seek and early solution to the current dependence on technology. Perhaps we should create a culture that allows us to present strategies for proper use of it, such as social campaigns that seek to strengthen human relations. Technology should be part of our lives but it doesn’t have to be everything. The important thing is to contribute to the development of humanity not to its destruction. Remember that technology is not the end the means to develop the world.

High Intermediate Category - Third Place

High Intermediate Third Place winner: Siripun Wongsawan
School: NYLC - Jackson Heights
Teacher: Samantha Lee

     

       Today, technology becomes part of life. Everything is easier and more comfortable for living.  Think about 20 years ago when you went to the airport by yourself to inquire about weight limitations or call them asking about flight hundred times but no one answered. Nowadays, you get more information by searching from the internet. It is very easy; you can answer customer's e-mail even when you are lying down in bed.  

           But have you ever had a bad experience with technology? Last 2 years I applied for jobs online instead of walking in because there is a limited quota and every year lot of people waited in front of the company since 4am. The online procedure had a limited quota too but I was confident in my high speed internet. Finally, I did not get that job because my internet was broken all day and the submission time was just 2 hours. I went to an internet cafe but it was too late. I did not think I was an unlucky person on an important day in my life; I relied on technology too much. 

          After that I walked in that company again to apply for the customer service position. Then get a job there. Actually human build technology so that technology cannot communicate by itself, it would be worthless without human beings.

      Sometimes, trying to leave technology behind and do things by yourself instead, It is a challenging, fun, experience and not as hard as you think. I recommend it.

High Intermediate Category - Second Place Winner

High Intermediate Category Second Place Winner - Destinee Christella
School: NYLC- Jackson Heights
Teacher: Samantha Lee

                               Technology

  Technology is that thing or instrument that gives us access to a world of communication. For me technology has more benefits than problems. It’s has helped me to solve a lot of problems and it teaches me many things. Often when I don’t know a recipe for a meal I use an application to show me how to do it. This application also has pictures and videos. After that i know more.

                         As I am addicted to my IPhone sometimes i get a bug. I remember that one day I had accidentally locked my iPhone I was very lost and sad and I didn’t want to bring my iPhone to a technician because that it would have been very expensive. Instead I checked the internet for a solution to my problem. To solve my problem by myself i just looked on the internet and googled my problem and I found a solution for how to unlock my iPhone.

                        Technology also helps me to stay in touch with my family all over the world. For example, I use WhatsApp to get some news of my little brother, with FaceTime I can see how my niece has grown up. When I feel sad because I miss my family, technology helps me to stay connected with the whole world.

                        The other side of technology or internet is that all of this can’t works without us humans an email will never been sent by itself. The internet needs us and we all need it.

                       Nowadays applications, smartphones tablet laptops all those things need internet and technology to work. Technology maybe has bad sides but I never had problems with that. For me technology is very helpful and it makes our lives easier to live.

Advanced Category Third Place Winner

     

Advanced Category Third Place: Elisa Casagrande

School: NYLC - Jackson Heights

Teacher: Benjamin Levy

    Technology is one of the best and smart invention of the history. With just a click we can catch our friends all around the World or check useful information wherever we are. It is obvious that technology has improved the ability to communicate. Information can run fast and we can share our feelings every moment more easily than before.

Despite that, there are downsides because of the technological overexposure. Devices like phones or computers are like an extension of our body and we feel “naked” if we do not have the possibility to check our Facebook profile 24-hours. It looks like we cannot “deal with the World” if  we do not write 140 types on twitter before.

Technology has helped me a lot. When I moved to NYC, technology has become fundamental for me. For moving it is also very important so that I can feel more comfortable and find the right way. But if I do not have access to the internet, it is a mess!

Once technology failed but it helped my ability to communicate. It is strange but it happened!

It was January and I had to pick up my sister at the airport. I have been in NYC since December, so I was very insecure with my English and transportation, too. Nevertheless, I did not feel worried because I had my phone and I could communicate with my husband, just in case. I studied the subway’s map. Not a big deal, I thought!

When I was on the platform to change train I realized that there were two signals for the same direction in both  the sides. I was not used to the New York’s subway system, so I tried to solve the problem with a phone application. Unfortunately, there was no coverage and the internet did not work, so I could not upload a map as well as call my husband. I did not have any choice: I had to ask information the old-fashioned way.

There was not a lot of people so I tried to ask an old refined man close to me. I found all the information I needed and, plus, I started an interesting conversation with him. Actually, he talked more than me, but it was a very good experience. He was going to the same direction so we did part of the ride together. He told me he was from India and he moved to NYC long time ago, as a businessman. He also asked me many questions but surprisingly I did not feel uncomfortable and I really do not why.

Unquestionably, technology helps us and in some situations it is essential. On the other hand, we are always connected and we are not used to start a conversation with strangers just because we do not need to do that. But sometimes we should try to turn off our “digital world” and look around.

For all these reasons, technology can help our ability to communicate in different and unexpected ways.  

Advanced Category Second Place Winner

Advanced Category Second Place: Paula Sanchez 

School: NYLC - Jackson Heights

Teacher: Benjamin Levy

DON’T LET NEW THINGS DESTROY OLD ONES

Communicate with someone from another country or another continent may have seemed impossible years ago, but as the years have passed, overseas communication and information sharing is an easily accessible and fast possibility that a large part of world’s population requires and gets just by pushing some buttons. Even though this is supposed to be an important part of humanity’s progress and development, the damages that technology does to communication are not questioned enough.

In the positive side, technology has made a huge impact on relationships, and the invention and use of cellphones, apps, and social networks has also made it easier for people to communicate with their families, friends and stay involved and active in their professional life when there are long distances in between. In fact, we are at a point where technology improves economy by providing fast and easier ways of doing things and offering employment to many people.

On the other hand, some of the disadvantages of this development are the loss of the art of conversation, this may not affect older generations, but for teenagers, kids and future generations, the lack of face – to – face conversations and writing practice lead us to forget how to maintain a proper and formal conversation; and don’t forget the increasing use of codes and abbreviations that have destroyed grammar and spelling skills, sometimes even changing the sense of sentences.

Unsafety has also been part of those revolutionary and new cyber relationships, sometimes people meet and make friends and significant others on websites, have success in business; sometimes they overshare information about bank accounts, their privacy, or meet creepy people and criminals that seem very friendly, normal and harmless on the web.

In conclusion technology and communication have developed a strong bond that’s necessary for personal and professional life, but if it’s not used and taken with responsibility, moderation and prudence, it could tear people apart from their family and beloved ones, create addictions and risky situations, and spoil real life and written communication; therefore that’s why people say everything is good with moderation and avoiding excesses.

Post Advance Category - Third Place

Third Place Winner: Manuel Uzhca
School: NYLC - Jackson Heights
Teacher: AJ Gonzales

Thanks to technology, we can communicate across the world.

Today I am going to write about why we have been giving thanks to technology even if it still does not help us know what to say.

I have several reasons why I am in complete agreement with this topic.

First, many people around the world use technology. Technology is very helpful and useful and it makes many people's life easier. Most people use technology to communicate and socialize. To communicate with others in another country, people use Skype.

To socialize people use Twitter, Facebok, Tumblr, and Instagram. People who have children use computers or tablets to let their children play when they are bored. Students use technology like computers to do research on homework or project.

Second, over the course of history, scientists  have been able to explore other planets sending powerful robots that have helped scientists learn tremendous amount about the geology of Mars. Because this technology takes the form of some impressive machines and tools that scientests can use to study the heavens.

Other important thing is that technology is being used with the " Defense against terrorism" specially in EE.UU protecting those major commercial intersation from terrorism after 9/11.

Third, our world is ever changing. These changes stretch across the board from industry, to the way we communicate, to the clothes we wear.

Most rapidly and often influeces other types of change is technology. There is big dabate on weather all of the rapid technological advancements are beneficial or detrimentalto our society. Although there arguements for both sides, it is almost imposible to deney some of the great things technology has done for us.

Before I finish let me sat that we can share our past, enrich our present and expand our futures though the use of social media. Skype and Google hangouts  are great ways to conect with friends, family or coworkers near and far.

Texting , calling, and e-mailing have revolutionized the way we keep in touch and these forms of communication only continue to avance.

Advanced Category- Winner

Advanced Category Winner: Mariya Vanchugova
School: NYLC - Upper West Side
Teacher: Melinda Hummel

     





   I want to share my story when technology helped me to conquer a barrier in my life. It was a very stressful situation and I am so thankful to the smart people who created it, because it was impossible to overcome this problem so fast five years ago.

        I live in Kazakhstan, in Almaty. Kazakhstan is a big country with a low population density. In general, there are large areas which are not very suitable for life, because there are steppes everywhere and not enough water. My city is located around mountains, that is why we have a very bumpy and sandy terrain. This is a paradise for people like me who are crazy about off road sports. I dreamed about owning a good car and I had been saving money for one year and half before I had saved enough money to buy the car of my dreams.

        I read about a new alarm. It was a new unique kind of technology which could control the car from my cellphone. I could open and close all doors and windows of my car, also it gave me an opportunity to stop and to start the engine or just to check the temperature in the engine or inside the car. All these options I could do from a distance. This alarm had a lot of sensors as tilt a sensor which protected the wheels and it made it impossible to steal them, because an alarm would have gone off and alerted me of any theft.

        One evening I went to a big premiere at the theater. I switched off my cellphone because it was not allowed in the theatre, but after the performance I turned it on and I was in shock, because I got about 25 different notifications from alarm. It was written that one window was broken, engine worked... I couldn't believe it. The theatre is in the center of the the city. There are hundreds of cameras. Nobody would taken a risk to steal it! But, in fact, my car was stolen! I called the police and when they arrived I panicked, but 40 minutes later the car was found and the thief was put in jail. The police found my car on "Google maps" by a GPS signal. When they began to pursue him, he was trying to escape, but the policeman’s partner shut off the engine by using my smartphone.


         Nowadays technology is everywhere. Gadgets count our heart beats, amount of steps we take every day or help us to control of our weight. People are developing cutting-edge technology help us investigate space and find breakthroughs. It helps us to save millions of people on Earth. At the same time, we use technology for the production of weapons, which also kills millions of people. I strongly believe it depends on who uses for good or bad purposes. However, the main point is what yesterday seemed impossible, now has become a reality.

Post Advanced Category- Second Place

 

Second Place: Oleksandr Trokoz

School: NYLC - Jackson Heights

Teacher: Sarah Hesler

Throughout mankind's development, people use various features that make our life easier and more efficient. Today we call it modern technologies. As with everything, they have positive and negative sides.

Although it is hard to argue that new technologies have significantly improved our life, there are people who hold the opinion that it brought danger in our life as well. Some individuals use it in inappropriate way. For instance, cyber thieves are able to steal more money through electronic devices than ever because almost all people use electronic money. Real money have digital equivalent, such as banks accounts, credit and debit cards etc. To put it in another way, today thieves don't need to steal real funds. It is enough to adjust some bank's papers or send transactions to other accounts. Moreover, once Internet was invented they can do this crime wherever around the world sitting in one place. Another example of drawbacks of new technology may be natural discrimination. All people are unique. They have different learning ability in certain fields. Even today a lot of them don't know how to use a computer, a tablet and some of them have a difficulties with using smartphones. In this way people will get worse job due to their inability to gain new skills quickly. Finally, the price for progressive technologies and devices we use for communication and other purposes are incomparably higher than the older one. In this case those who have more money will stay in better position than other people.

On the other side, high tech features have totally enhanced our life. Society has created more possibilities for public and business communication, scientific and home calculation, exploring undiscovered worlds. Ample things that were sophisticated, incomprehensible and inaccessible became so easy and routine today. To clarify, we spend less time than ever on information exchange. A letter from opposite side of the world is delivered in a few seconds. Moreover, we are able to see our relatives on other continents in real-time by using some apps on a smartphone. It makes people closer to each other. Due to new technology people have more free time for their families. It fortifies families which is an incredible part of upbringing of new generations.

Furthermore, the world economy and manufacturers started work faster and more efficiently. Thanks to computers we create new type of food, clothes, housing faster than before because all people involved in this process are connected by one network and make up their minds in a few clicks of mouse. Using new communication technologies give us opportunities to respond on time to difficulties we are faced with in different fields of our life. We can say that high tech  innovations have increased quality of people's lives.

In conclusion, new technologies were and always will be essential wealth for human beings. Without using them and constantly improving, we were further behind than we are now. As all new and prospective modern technologies require from us a sacrifice, some parts of our past must be let go in the name of progress and development.

Post Advanced Category- Winner

Post Advanced Category Winner: Yuki Hirasaki

School:  NYLC- Jackson Heights

Teacher: Sarah Hesler

 

In the modern society, some people can not live without technology for communication such as computer, mobile phone, and other kinds of technology. On the other hand, other people have a question to believe these technology make our communication easier. From my point of view, I agree with the idea that technology can help us, but I believe that people should have responsibility to use them property. I feel it because using technology can be stressful and immoral.

First of all, since people have started to use technology, especially mobile phone, they tend to lose the border between work and private time. Because people can reach someone whom they need to talk easier than before. For instance, I used to work for a company as a sales person. I had a big customer at the time, and they wanted to talk anytime they wanted. So I had to keep my mobile phone on and had to answer them even though it was my off day. Sometimes it was needed to go to their store, or I had to prepare to solve the issue at home. It was really stressful for me. I guess it is not only me but many people have the same problem. At that time, it used to be important for me to use mobile phone for work, but now I think it would be wrong. I should have drawn a line between ON and OFF. Otherwise I might have been sick by overworking.

Furthermore, I think the manner of using them is obviously crucial. for example, I saw some couples were sitting at cafe without any words. Instead of talking each other, they focused on their own mobile phone. And only sometime they talked each other about the other conversation on the phone or game on line. I feel it is ridiculous and sort of side effect of using telecommunications. I suppose that people tend to become to neglectful of the communication in person. It is kind of immoral. Formerly most people had less option to communicate and attempted seriously to be in touch. From my experience, I had a ex-boyfriend who always checked his mobile phone even though I was next to him. I told him to face to me instead of checking SNS on his phone. Unfortunately we broke up later by the other reason. However I thought less communication between us might be a hidden reason for it.

To sum up, I suppose the communication technology such as mobile phone is a quite useful tool, but people should treat them carefully. We should not neglect to face to others in person. And we should to keep our private life out when it needed. Using device for communication is essential in this modern society, but I strongly believe that we should set a clear standard for it. Especially for our children, we would need to tell them how is the real communication as intended