Views and Visions: Did you plan your life? Part 2

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Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. fortunate / ˈfɔr tʃə nɪt / (adj.) – having good luck or being in a good situation
    Example:

    I’m very fortunate to have such helpful friends.


  2. tuition / tuˈɪʃ ən / (n.) – money paid to a school to be able to study there
    Example:

    In the US, college tuition is really expensive, so many students graduate with a lot of debt.


  3. peer pressure / pɪər ˈprɛʃ ər / (n.) – a feeling that one must act or look like everyone else in a group in order to be accepted
    Example:

    She didn’t like wearing makeup, but she did it because of peer pressure.


  4. the bigger picture / ðə ˈbɪg gər ˈpɪk tʃər / (idiom) – a view of a situation that shows all the important details and its possible effects on other things
    Example:

    Some people are so focused on minor problems that they forget to look at the bigger picture.


  5. dull / dʌl / (adj.) – not interesting or exciting
    Example:

    My job is becoming dull. I do the same thing over and over.


Article

Read the text below.

Continued from Part 1…


I was fortunate in that I had the opportunity to take my education all the way to college. But I would be lying if I said there was any kind of planning going on for my future. I lived day to day, concerned with grades, tuition and the many challenges facing me: peer pressure, changes in my body and the problems that face every growing teenager. I lived completely in the now, the future was something that I assumed would take care of itself. And I suppose it did. Even though every day had uncertainties, the future still unfolded.


Today’s youth have the added pressures of social media and a fast-moving society. Our values are changing. Many people seem to be more concerned with fame and wealth than finding the best place for themselves in society. Young people want to be movie stars, rock stars, sports stars. They won’t admit they don’t have the talent to chase their dream — until reality tells them they need to earn a living.


Perhaps I am not seeing the bigger picture, however. Life is full of natural disasters, wars, surprises and mysteries. It might be a dull world if people walked along one path and never left it.


Did you plan your life? (Beverly A. Jackson)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • According to the author, today’s youth have the added pressures of social media and a fast-moving society. Do you agree that today’s youth have more pressures than you did when you were young? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • In your opinion, is “peer pressure” always a bad thing? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • According to the author, many people won’t admit that they don’t have the talent to chase their dream. What do you think is the reason for this? What should parents do if their children are in this situation (ex. gently explain that they don’t have enough talent, pay for lessons)? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The author wrote that many people seem to be more concerned with fame and wealth than with finding the best place for themselves in society. In your opinion, is it bad to aim for fame and wealth? Why or why not? Discuss.