Compare and contrast your way of life with that of your parents.

[Jane Le]

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Compare and contrast you way of life with that of your parents. Which way of life do you think would be more satisfying to future generation?

Everyone in this world has their own ways to live and so, it varies to different kinds of life styles, which you may want to refer to and choose which one is more proper. I do not want to direct my life as my parents do because of the society and circumstances I am having now. However, it does not mean that I will sweep away all the tradition, which my family has been conserving for years.

My parents are typical people who always try to live as maturely and traditionally as they can. They eat all traditional food, they wear discreet clothes, they sleep quiet and barely have sexual relationships. However, they are not old schooled. They teach their children how to live in a modern way and we love to acquire it. They read news via internet and sometimes have western food for breakfast. They are peaceful and almost there is nothing serious happen to them in their whole life. Nevertheless, I still do not want to live the way they do.

The reasons why are so simple. I want to make things different. I want to make my own way, not only to enrich my life but also to express myself to the world. I want to wear shorts, I want to use and do everything I want. For example, I dream of climbing Everest mount but my mom says it’s too dangerous and no one here has done it before. However, I believe I can do it and I will do it. I desire to discover life and research new things in the world. And all of those are things that my parents never dare to accomplish.

What should I teach the next generation? People can tell that I have a break out. But everything I do is based on my family’s tradition. I have a good attitude toward people, which I have been taught since I was young. I learnt the way my father used to learn because he is successful now. On the other hand, I want to show my off springs everything that has been existing in my family for centuries to let them know that they have ancestors and they have to always remember and appreciate them. However, life is beautiful and various. People in all generation should augment themselves to enjoy it better.

The combination between the way I live and the way my parents do is a good conclusion for everything. I do not state that which way is better but I believe in myself. Hence, the children in the future should have their own styles to prove themselves but also they should always head to the root in which they were born. They should not follow some bad or old schooled habits that push them to stay backward to the society. They will satisfy themselves by doing what I said. And the way I live is that I conserve the old and discover the new.

TOEFL listening lectures: A university lecture by a professor in the College of Fine Arts