TOEFL作文学习8.17

It is better to take a secure job with a low pay than to take a job with a high pay but little security.

 

The debate over whether a low-paying job but secure job is better than a high-paying yet less secure job is a fierce one. It is tempting to think that a low paying job with great security means an easy and comfortable life while a high-paying job without security leaves one exposed to the risk of unemployment, thereby creating a high level of stress. However, I hold the opposite view. I believe that a high paying but insecure job is beneficial for personal development.

 

Challenging jobs contribute to people’s growth. High paying jobs are crucial in every company, requiring people to deal with all sorts of demanding tasks. Besides the work itself, high expectations from the supervisors, along with intense competition among colleagues, strain people’s nerves. They always face the prospect that if they do not continue to perform at a high level, they will get laid off. But pressure, despite its obvious drawbacks, also motivates people to work harder and achieve more. If fact, for most people, it is only when placed under pressure that they are motivated enough to make the most of their time in order to acquire more knowledge and sharpen skills, thereby bringing out the best in themselves. In contrast, people who have chosen low-paying and secure jobs lead easier and comfortable lives, largely free of pressure and stress, or the need to make changes. The flip-side is that the lack of pressure and the sense of security, which dampens their motivation and effectively barricades people from continued development.

 

Taking high paying but insecure jobs helps people build a strong will. When holding a high-paying but insecure job, people will inevitably be encountered with significant setbacks. No matter how many sleepless nights go into perfecting the project at hand, the end result may still fail to live up to the expectation of their supervisors. Or, even after donating a large amount of time and energy on a project or presentation, people may still lose a million-dollar contract for simply failing to appeal to one of their clients. But every dark cloud has a silver lining. Adversity and failure are critical in the process of achieving something great. People learn from mistakes, realizing that crying and complaining serve no useful purpose in addressing the problem. So, they are more likely to continue on their journey with a renewed vigor and strong minds.

In summary, I acknowledge that people who take low-paying but secure jobs can enjoy easy and comfortable lives. But in the long run, working a job with high pay but lower security is the best way for people to improve themselves and develop a resilient personality.

 

Playing sports teaches people more lessons about life.

Some people think that playing sports is a waste of time with little relevance to real life. They believe that sport at best, is good for keeping fit and healthy, and even these benefits can be reaped through other and more enjoyable activities. However, sports enthusiasts point to the well documented mental, physical and social benefits of sports, not to mention the personal skills that people develop through participation in sporting activities. I agree with this view and believe sports can teach people many lessons applicable to life in general.

The most obvious quality that sports can teach is the value of teamwork. It can teach individuals to cooperate with their team members, even those they do not personally like. When I was younger I played lacrosse and soccer, and quickly learned that a team either works together or it fails. We played exceptionally, if we supported each other and complemented each other’s skills. However when personal ambition and egos were carried onto the pitch, the team’s performance took a nosedive. Even world class football players such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo cannot win a match, without the support of the other players. In sports, as is the case with life, great things can be achieved when a group of individuals work together in harmony, setting aside their personal differences to achieve a common objective.

 

Sports can also teach people how to overcome failure and remain positive in the face of adversity. I remember the first loss I experienced as a soccer player. My team had won the first three games of the season, and with 10 minutes of the fourth match remaining, the team was two goals ahead. Unfortunately, then the unthinkable happened—over the next five minutes, our opponents recovered and scored three goals, condemning us to a loss, which led to low team morale. The coach gave the team a talk and reminded us that failure is a part of growth and we needed to learn from mistakes and emerge stronger than before. After reviewing the tapes and revising our strategy, we came back to play a successful season and, by a score of 3-0, beat the team that had defeated us. Sports taught me to pick myself up and keep going, when things look leak.

 

Finally, sports can teach ”sportsmanship”. There will always be competition in life. Some view competitors as enemies, whereas others use this as justification to do anything it takes to win. Playing sports has taught me a better way. It has taught me to respect and admire competitors and win on the basis of my talent without cheating. I remember one lacrosse game against a tough opponent. During the game, we fouled the opponents who were laying behind us. Despite this, they decided not to call the foul. Moved by this gesture of sportsmanship, we took the team out for a meal after the match.

 

I believe that sports can teach people a lot about life. It teaches the value of teamwork, the correct way to deal with failure, and how to behave with integrity, with are invaluable attributes.