Jessica Holsman is an Australian social influencer, entrepreneur, actor/producer and the author of The High School Survival Guide. After completing a postgraduate diploma in Psychology, Jess opted for a career change in pursuit of a more creative pathway to helping others. Her passion for empowering students to succeed in school, celebrate their unique qualities and pursue a meaningful and purposeful life has led her to become the voice of many teens and young adults online.

With over 400,000 subscribers and 23 million views on her organisational and lifestyle channel 'Study With Jess', Jess continues to shed light on the important issues effecting many students today and offers her ongoing support in helping them increase their productivity, boost their mental health and adopt a healthier work/life balance.

She recently launched the support column, 'Dear Jess', that sheds light on the many challenges her viewers experience as part of student life, in an effort to help guide them through this important chapter.

She has also co-produced and written her latest web series Life of Jess, a scripted teen 'dramedy' on YouTube and stared in Mind Full, a documentary on e-mental health. In addition, she is the founder of an educational stationery line for students; Educationery.

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...