TOEFL® essay: Who influences the life more -- teacher or friend?

[Gray]

We need both for our journey through life – someone who guides us to the right path and a companion who makes us emerge from a complete solitude.

Mother - we owe our life to her. She deserves far more, teacher merely a shadow of her. She gives meaning to our life - teaches us how to live, how to eat, how to speak, how to learn, how to walk and so on. Thus long before opening a book, we finish the first chapter of our life.

Friends - it starts with a playmate. We learn to play by imitating, and teach others a thing or two. We do not just share, but end up being a teacher and a learner ourselves.

We get into school with only one purpose – to learn, the other remains implied. Teachers not only impart all the worldly things in us but the values we endure for our lifetime. No wonder then, that teachers occupy the most unique place in our minds. Many of us aspire to be a teacher and regret sometimes for not following that path.

When we grow out of childhood, a feeling of independence makes us explore the world on our own. But the need of sharing intellectual emotions gets us closer to the friends. Later on it converts to a life time companionship -- to share the joys and have the shoulder for cries.

We learn from both – teacher and friend, former lives forever in our memory and latter...in our hearts.
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First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English

[Shyone]

I can agree with all you are saying.

Only thing is, in your last sentence, if you could replace the word later with latter, please?

The meaning had me stumped a bit at first, but by reading it "latter" it made sense.

It's a very good write, and well thought out.
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No comment

[Gray]

Thanks for visiting my place. I just edited to make it 'latter'. And yes, I forgot to welcome you to this forum!


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First lesson - English, not english. I, not i. ~A student of English

[Ashishb31]

Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Classmates are a more important influence than parents on a child’s success in school. Use specific reasons and examples to support your answer.

Parents play important role in growth and success of children they are the first school of child. Nevertheless, I agree with the point that classmates play vital role for success of child in school. Child spends approximately six to eight hours in school. This is enough time to get influenced by any other student. Learning capacity of child at school age is very sharp. They get influenced by others easily. They get motivated by their peer groups. There is competition for getting good grades in class. Impact of classmate on child’s learning is significant.

Positive impact of classmates forces student to motivate towards study. There are various factors which work in school for influencing child, for example, lower grades will make them feel disgraced in front of other students. It is child’s psychology that no wants to get punished in front of their peer group, which motivates them to perform well. Students have their own group in class and each member of group helps each other in studies. Students do group studies in common room or library of school. It has been noticed that student who spend maximum time with studious classmates score well. Where as those who spend time with some notorious students score less. This is only due to influence of different kinds of group. For example when I was in school I was having friend who was good basket ball player, he influenced me in learning this game and I also started giving more attention towards this game than studies. Where as when I was in graduation I was having friendship with the group of students who were good in studies. Because of them my interest towards studies increased as a result I scored good marks in final exams.

Finally, I can say that vying and mutual learning among fellow students are more important influence than parents on child’s success. As much as child will interact with classmates it will help in learning many things.

please someone chech it i tell me how much improvement i need i will really appriciate