"This book is everything I wish I knew when I was in high school - told to me by the mentor I wish I had! Every student should be armed with Jess's guide." –Pritish Agarwal - Partner Manager, YouTube.

“High School Survival Guide teaches you how to survive both school and life! The emphasis on passion, organization, balance and discipline are themes throughout the book, but also the TRUE keys to success in life. Jessica's passion for education and self- growth are evident as she recalls her academic experiences and battles to overcome the pressure to succeed." –Lenoria Addison, Partner Manager, AwesomenessTV

"High School is an amazing and challenging period of every teenager's life. Jess shares a mature, inspirational and accessible survival guide for every teenager trying to navigate these exciting times. Highly recommended!" –Guillaume Deront, Online Partnership Manager, YouTube AUNZ

“This is a really sweet, encouraging handbook to have during a time when we all need that extra motivation and support.” –Natalie Tran, The Community Channel

CONTENTS Dedication and Acknowledgments Welcome (My personal message to the reader) CH 1: Getting Ready for a New School Year Making sure you have the essentials Getting a head start on your readings Preparing your workspace for a new year My top 5 tips for preparing for a new school year CH 2: School Spirit The benefits of extra-curricular activities Getting involved in school activities My top 5 tips for unleashing your school spirit CH 3: Making New Friends Friendships and support Systems How to make new friends Fitting in: How to deal with peer pressure How to deal with bullies My top 5 tips for making friends CH 4: The Ideal Study Environment Deciding where to study How to create a productive study space How to keep a tidy desk My top 5 tips for keeping a tidy workspace CH 5: Structuring Your Study Sessions Finding the right time to study Breaking up your study sessions How to prioritize like a pro How to wind up your study sessions My top 5 tips for completing homework CH 5: Getting into the ‘Study Zone’ Choosing the right tasks Deciding on the best study technique Using friends as a motivator My top 5 tips for finding your study zone CH 6: Goal Setting The benefits of goal setting Setting yourself long-term goals Setting yourself short-term goals My top 5 tips for setting goals CH 7: Staying Focused in Class Dealing with distractions Staying up to date The common causes of losing focus My top 5 tips for staying focused in class CH 8: How to be an Organized Student Using a planner for school How to organize handouts and class notes Organizing your belongings My top 5 tips for staying organized CH 9: How to Catch Up in Class Falling behind in classwork How to catch up Asking for help My top 5 tips for catching up on classwork CH 10: Writing Weekly Summaries The benefits of writing weekly summaries How to set out your weekly summaries My top 5 tips for writing weekly summaries CH 11: Dealing with Disappointment Learning from your mistakes Using feedback correctly My top 5 tips for using feedback correctly CH 12: How to have a Positive Mindset The importance of positive thinking Having a positive mindset 3 Easy ways to change your perspective My top 5 tips for staying positive CH 14: Tackling Major Assignments Planning your approach Essay writing Class presentations Group projects My top 5 tips for completing assignments CH 15: Studying for Finals Planning your study approach Study SMART not hard The 4 learning styles How to throw a study party! My top 5 tips for studying for exams CH 16: Study Stress and Anxiety Feeling stressed What is stress? How to manage stress and anxiety My top 5 tips for dealing with stress CH 17: The Week of the Exam What to do the week of finals How to enhance your performance in an exam How to deal with exam anxiety My top 5 tips for completing exams CH 18: The Next Step… Your big picture goal Deciding a career pathway Creating a career plan Considering a gap year Your education is a journey…