Writing Task 2 - Starting University Studies

Task 2 requires to write at least 250 words. We should spend around 40 minutes on this task. This is my answer about the following topic:

In some countries young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies.
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages for young people who decide to do these.

Youth have different habits in different countries in terms of study. What is common in some countries is that the young generation choose to work or travel after finishing their high school. A year after that, they will continue their studies at university. This essay will look at the positive impacts and the drawbacks of a recess in study.

The benefits of taking a year's break of study would be down to two major points, namely experience and money. It could be argued that some people who travels or works would obtain precious experiences that will significantly contribute to their success in life. That is because most people believe that experience is the best teacher. Moreover, people who have experience would have greater opportunities to have well-paid jobs rather than others who have no experience although they have a better mark at school (academic mark). A further benefit is that youth who work would have more money to pay for their tuition fees. In other words, they become financially independent as some of them probably are from low-income families. Thus, it is obvious that they create better opportunities to take their further studies themselves.

Despite all of those benefits, there are two negative impacts of this issue for youth, in regards with their motivation and their time. For some youth who have decided to work or travel before entering university, they may become reluctant to embark on studying. After working for some time, they may have second thoughts about whether it is necessary to take their undergraduate studies or not. Similarly, some people who have enjoyed their traveling might have the same feelings about studying. Another drawbacks is that they will have a longer study time compared to others who have chosen to go straight do their studies. There is also a probability that some youth who have traveled want to extend their travel time.

In conclusion, the benefits of this issue could be in terms of experience and money, whereas the disadvantages would be motivation and time. In my view, it could be a good idea for youth to work or travel for about a year while always maintaining their motivation to study.
[364 words]