Every child has the ability know where you have to work," to succeed, says Laurel's said Sessoms, showing a Joyce Sessoms. They just need checklist to help ninth- to know what success is for graders develop good study them and have the proper habits. "I'm hoping it helps tools to make that happen. parents and students get a Sessoms, a guidance counselor system going." at Laurel High School, (2 of 2) recently released The book was written for "SuccessAbility! Taking the parents and students. Many Burden Out of Navigating High parents believe they should School" to help that success back off when their child become reality. enters high school, but it's High school can be difficult a time when students need to navigate. "SuccessAbility" their parents, she said. is a 125-page guidebook that Some parents feel inadequate opens with a quote from Mary to deal with high school McLeod Bethune, founder of academics; Sessoms confesses Bethune-Cookman College (now that if a child came to her University) in Daytona Beach, for help with advanced Fla., "We have a powerful algebra she'd have to find potential in our youth and we someone else to do the must have the courage to tutoring. The book is change old ideas and designed to give parents a practices so that we may refresher on what it's like direct their power toward to be in high school and show good ends." where resources are for The quote sums up Sessoms' things they don't know. reasoning for writing the "It's a really good book. book: Adults often take for They should make it mandatory granted that high school for parents to read it," said students have everything Shari Lubiniecki, a parent available to succeed. who bought the book for her Students have a support eighth-grader to prepare him system to call on at the for the next school year. "It school, but most don't know gives you an idea of what's about it, or how to use it, to come for your child said Sessoms. entering high school. It For years she quizzed gives them a lot of students she saw in school to references." see how prepared they were Providing a foundation for for high school and life high school students is key beyond. She found that they to their futures, said weren't. Sessoms. "I'd ask them what a "We have to get back to transcript was. They knew basics because our drop-out they probably needed one, but rate is horrendous, our didn't know what it was," failure rate is horrendous," said Sessoms . she said. "This book does a A lot of the students didn't lot to make everyone know what a resume or accountable." portfolio was, how to study, JOYCE SESSOMS what a GPA or class rank was, HOME: Laurel or how many credits they FAMILY: husband Furman, three needed to graduate. grown children, seven Many had no idea what Sessoms grandchildren and three great- job was or how she could help grandsons them. EDUCATION: Masters in Her book takes the guesswork education, Wilmington out of much of the dealings University. in high school. Laurel High PROFESSION: counselor at School is looking into buying Laurel High School, author of a copy for incoming freshmen "SuccessAbility!" as part of its Academic INTERESTS: Co-founder Vine Advisement Program. and Vessels Christian Writers "I think it's a great Fellowship; member youth resource for anyone out there, department at United " said Laurel principal Dean Deliverance Bible Center in Ivory. Laurel. Broken down by years and TO ORDER: The $15 book is filled with cartoons and available at Amazon. com or inspirational quotations, the from www.mysuccessability.com workbook approach lists and www.fruitbearer.com important things students OF INTEREST: Sessoms also need to know, provides hosts a blog at checklists to help them plan http://mysuccessability. and be prepared and offers blogspot.com, where people suggestions for where they may help each other with can go to get more problems and comment on the information. book. "If there are blanks, you
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