Secondary school is undoubtedly a challenge, so Form One students are both excited and nervous when they start the new school year. While teachers like me can offer a few tips, there are a couple of popular books that parents and students might find useful.
In Surviving High School: Making the Most of the High School Years, Michael Reira uses his experience as a school counsellor to discuss most issues students face so they can make informed choices.
High School: The Real Deal - From GPAs to Graduation by Juliana Farrell, Colleen Rush, is another interesting and comprehensive book, examining topics from plagiarism to popularity.
But perhaps the experiences of Saloni Relan and Miyuki Omura, two students who have enjoyed wonderful success at school, can more helpful in dealing with the challenges ahead.
Saloni, who received the ESF Chairman's Award for Excellence for getting nine A* and one A in her IGCSE, has just started the IB Diploma at West Island School. Miyuki is about to read medicine at Leeds University in Britain, after completing her IB Diploma at the French International School. Saloni compares entering secondary school to swimming a big pool that is too deep to stand in.
It's a big change from the shallower pool of Primary Six, where you are at the top, to secondary school, where you start again at the bottom in Form One.