Some People Think that the Teenage Years are the Happiest Times- IELTS Writing Task 2

Some people think that the teenage years are the happiest times of most people’s lives. Others believe that adult life brings more happiness despite greater responsibilities. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Outline

Essay Type

Discussion Essay

Introduction

Paraphrase the topic using synonyms to create an understanding of the topic.

Body paragraphs

Paragraph 1 – Elucidate how as an adolescent, one gets unconditional love from their parents, and perhaps that is the happiest aspect of any teenager.

Paragraph 2 – Talk about factors that contribute to creating happy moments in adulthood.

Conclusion

Restate your views.

Sample Essay

The teenage stage of a person’s life knows no bounds and brings pure joy, while adulthood offers freedom, a sense of fulfilment and achievement. Thus, some people deem adolescence the happiest part of life, while others argue that maturity is more enjoyable. Both teenage and grown-up times can be idiosyncratic and full of blessings for certain people. Personally speaking, the happiest times of life may differ from person to person.

On the one hand, as an adolescent, one gets unconditional love from their parents, and perhaps that is the happiest aspect of any teenager. Additionally, in one’s childhood, one makes friends who last for a lifetime, learn how to ride a bike, experience unadulterated love, the feeling when one gets their first prize and countless other feelings that cause an adrenaline rush, and it becomes the revered memories for one’s whole life.

On the other hand, during adulthood, one is at the age of getting the first job, committing themselves to a long-term relationship, travelling and following one’s dreams which one cannot do when one is a teenager. These are the factors that contribute to creating happy moments. However, as adults, everyone has more responsibilities. For example, one has to find a job and take care of their family. Sometimes professional commitments may force one to compromise on family time, making them unhappy. However, in the end, it is an individual’s attitude towards life that determines whether they can move on with a positive spirit.

In conclusion, every stage of our life has its own set of comfort and solace, and some people get nostalgic about the past and try to relive their happy moments, while others are just happy in their adulthood.

Vocabulary

• Adolescence

Meaning – the period following the onset of puberty during which a young person develops from a child into an adult.
Example – Nona had a troubled adolescence.

• Maturity

Meaning – the state, fact, or period of being mature.
Example – It is most likely that we begin to understand things, and that is when we hit maturity.

• Idiosyncratic

Meaning – peculiar or individual.
Example – The documentary I watched last night was very idiosyncratic.

• Aspect

Meaning – a particular part or feature of something.
Example – The training program covers every aspect about the job that Henry will be doing.

• Adrenaline

Meaning – a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that increase rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism and prepare muscles for exertion.
Example – The rollercoaster ride gave me the ultimate adrenaline rush.

• Revered

Meaning – feel deep respect or admiration for (something).
Example – Adam’s professor of law was revered for his immense learning.

• Compromise

Meaning – settle a dispute by mutual concession.
Example – The discussion resulted in a compromise that everyone accepted.

• Spirit

Meaning – the prevailing or typical quality, mood, or attitude of a person, group, or period of time.
Example – It was in good spirits that the trek to the temple in the mountains started.

• Nostalgic

Meaning – feeling, evoking, or characterized by nostalgia.
Example – I always feel nostalgic when I meet my school friends.

• Relive

Meaning – live through (an experience or feeling, especially an unpleasant one) again in one’s imagination or memory.
Example – Sometimes, my mother tells me if she could relive her younger years again.