Last Friday 4/12, a friend of mine asked me to take a look at an essay by her teenager son. While I acknowledge his language proficiency, I let my friend know that her teenager son needs to explore more complex topics and delve deeper into ideas with some maturity.
I have worked with many high school seniors before and have written many times on the importance of writing. Here's the same topic on writing for my friend and others who wish to write better.
First of all, as the starting point, find the topic that you are passionate about or really interested in. For teenagers whose life experience is very limited, you can either read widely or explore different perspectives on daily events. See if you can look at familiar topics from unique angles and develop more nuanced and engaging writing.
Second, stay curious and open-minded as you go about your daily routine. Question assumptions and seek out diverse viewpoints. Take nothing for granted and let go of nothing unexamined and unquestioned.
Third, develop critical thinking skills. When you decide to write, you are not just a writer, you are also a thinker. The quality of your thinking directly determines that of your writing. Think about the ideas you encounter in your reading and events you see around you, develop your own opinions and perspectives. Be an independent thinker. Remember to always support your argument with evidence.
Finally, like all solid skills in life, writing is a journey of a thousand miles, that takes time and nothing less than serious dedication and perseverance. Write with a growth mindset, fear not of challenges and setbacks.