TOEFL Essay Sample: Compare yourself today and yourself five years ago

[Ramiro]

Compare yourself today and yourself five years ago. In what ways are you the same or different? Use specific examples to support your response.

Five years ago I was twenty two years old, just finishing the second semester in the University, and without any experience working on a full-time job in my life. And now, I just finished the University on this year, and I have a lot of experience working on the last four years in four different kind of business.

In march of 2002 with the third semester of career starting, I started working on a six months contract at the computer lab of my University, as a junior student. That was a good start because I learned all about my career there, and I could practice what I study in the class. But the most important thing that I have learned, was to be a positive member of a team.

After this, I could get a contract with a software company, specialist on programs and project for municipalities. The job consist on write a program to automatice the work of an entire Municipality. For example, a program to take photos with a digital camera, and generate a drive card ready to print.
Among to write the programs, another part consist on implement the software on the place. So, I had to travel around the country, installing the program on every city. That was a great opportunity to know many places and make new friends for almost 2 years, and to learn a lot about about the life.

After that, in 2004 I was just starting my last year of career and the thesis, so I needed to find a job without having to travel all the months. Fortunately, I could get a job as computer consultant on a Non-Governmental Organization. That was a more relaxing work that allowed me to finish my career easily, and make the step from a student to a professional.

Finally, on this year, with my career just finished, and working on an Internet company. I think that now I am more mature than 5 years ago, and I feel myself ready to find a good future for me and my family.

[Alan]

Hi,

Five years ago I was twenty two years old, just finishing the second semester in the University, and without any experience working IN a full-time job in my life. And now, I HAVE just finished the University this year, and I have a lot of experience working on the last four years in four different kindS of business.

In March 2002 with the third semester of MY career starting, I started working on a six month contract at the computer lab of my University, as a junior student. That was a good start because I learned all about my career there, and I could practice what I studIED in the class. But the most important thing that I have learned, was to be a positive member of a team.

After this, I could get a contract with a software company, specialistS IN programs and projectS for municipalities. The job consistS OF write a program to COMPUTERIZE the work of an entire Municipality. For example, a program to take photos with a digital camera, and generate a drive card ready to print.
APART FROM writING the programs, another part consist oF implementING the software IN the place. So, I had to travel around the country, installing the program IN every city. That was a great opportunity to GET TO know many places and make new friends for almost 2 years, and to learn a lot about about life.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Ramiro]

thanks