Читать книгу The High School Survival Guide - Jessica Holsman - Страница 6

Welcome

From the young age of fifteen, I knew I wanted to take on a profession that involved helping people. For many years, the thought of becoming a clinical psychologist sparked my interest. I never wanted to work in a desk job, spending the majority of my days in a high rise building, overlooking the city and its perfectly manicured gardens. Deep down, I knew that whatever I would end up doing, it needed to involve working with people, not for them. I guess that’s why I was drawn to the idea of becoming a psychologist, because I wanted to be able to connect with others; to be the one to make them feel heard and guide them through pivotal stages in their lives.

Knowing that my performance in school was essential for helping me achieve my goal, I spent the majority of my final high school years hidden away in the school library. I was determined to pour all of my efforts into my studies and give myself the best chance of getting into one of the top universities in the state. Fueling my desire to succeed in school was my deep appreciation for my education, as I was raised to see it as a powerful tool that could be used to lead me down an avenue of endless possibilities. I just had to decide how I wanted to use it and which path to take. Growing up, my parents worked incredibly hard and made many sacrifices in order to give my sister and I an excellent education. Their efforts never went unnoticed and they certainly played a significant role in shaping my perception and the value I placed on my studies. Did I mention that my mother also happened to be a school teacher for over twenty-five years?

Giving a majority of my time to my studies was unfortunately at the expense of my well-being, as much of the valuable time I would usually spend tending to my own personal needs was cast aside. Perhaps it was due to the immense pressure that I put on myself in my final years of school, coupled with my competitive nature and perfectionist traits that I sported from a young age? Interestingly, my parents never seemed to place any pressure on me and would even excuse me from my responsibilities around the house. I no doubt placed more than enough pressure on myself for the three of us, which must explain why! My final years in high school were there to test me; although in hindsight, the level of difficulty found in the academic assessments were no match for the emotional obstacles that I would have to learn to navigate. My primary focus was my grades, and while proud of my academic achievements, I was left feeling

tired and burnt out by the time I graduated from my final year of school.

It was only when I entered my first year at university and began studying my undergraduate degree in psychology at Monash University that my perception of my studies began to change. I shifted my mindset from being predominantly grade-focused to appreciating all of the opportunities that I had to expand my knowledge and grow as an individual. I began putting some much needed boundaries into place and structuring my study sessions differently, so that I wasn’t left feeling restless or overwhelmed by the increasing workload that came with my degree. In fact, I remember being pushed academically and having more work than I did in high school, yet my memories of my time at university are only positive. Much of the changes that occurred around this time are thanks to the close friendships I made on campus. My friends and I acted as our own constant and unconditional support systems; encouraging each other when those major assignments and exams rolled around, studying together and sharing our methods and tricks. I soon learned that there were more ways to study than I had realized and that by incorporating different learning techniques that I actually enjoyed into my study sessions, the time that I spent studying became more effective, productive and yielded greater results. I stopped re-writing essays ten times in order to memorize them and instead, started reaching for bright colored markers and covering sheets of cardboard with illustrations that resembled key points, ideas and themes – even if they did look like meaningless or bizarre images to anyone else!

After completing my undergraduate degree, I decided to enroll in the postgraduate diploma of psychology course at Deakin University. Although only a one-year course, it felt as though I learned more in that one year than in any other throughout my education. I left with nothing but positive memories and my learning experience was enriched beyond my expectations. I graduated with honors and despite my ongoing efforts throughout the year, I couldn’t help but feel surprised and thrilled with such an outcome! Between my friends, the lecturers, tutors and my supervisors, I couldn’t have felt more supported either. There is no doubt in my mind that it was their collective effort to assist me, coupled with their evident passion for education that continued to ignite my love for learning.

Looking back at the age of twenty-five as a university graduate, I wish I could have told my younger self what I know now. It certainly would have saved me a lot of anxiety and stress in my final years of school! At times, I feel as though my perfectionist traits and undue pressure that I placed on myself robbed me of fully enjoying what is meant to be some of the most exciting years of our lives. This realization is none other than what drove me to start my YouTube channel Study With Jess shortly after I graduated. I never expected that my love for learning would take me down such an interesting and exciting pathway in life, and while it started as a way for me to creatively share my knowledge and put my study skills to good use, it became so much more in such a short time. I remember the first email I received from a viewer and reading about how my videos had helped get her through what she described as a challenging time in her life. That I was inspiring and motivating students to study, empowering them, and helping them look towards their future, that was all I needed to know. That I had truly found my life’s purpose. Even though I don’t believe that my future holds a career in psychology anymore, I know that the life lessons and skills I learned throughout school and university are what brought me to this point in my life. Who would have thought that I would go from being a ‘future psychologist’ to YouTuber, entrepreneur and now published author’ in such a short time frame!

A lot has certainly changed since my high school days; my career choice, my skill set and my perception of my studies, however much of the same challenges, worries and concerns of students entering their final years of school still remain.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of focusing solely on grades; forgetting why you are studying in the first place and what it is that you aim to get out of your time at school. Don’t forget, your experience at school and your education are a privilege and your opportunity to not only expand your knowledge and skill-set, but also grow as an individual. Of course your grades are important, however getting good grades does not need to come at the expense of your own health and social life. You can excel in school academically and thrive as an individual as well!

Now ask yourself:

‘Do I want to improve my grades?’

‘Am I ready to enhance my study skills?’

‘Am I ready to have an amazing time in high school?’

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions then I strongly encourage you to keep reading! All of my secrets for enjoying high school and excelling academically can be found here in this book! I’ve made it my mission to help students around the world discover their love for learning, to feel motivated and inspired to get their work done and to maximize their full potential. Whilst I can’t be physically present to answer all of your questions in person, this is my way of being there to support and guide you through this exciting new stage in your life. This is my high school survival guide. xo