‘Sink or Swim’: Chapman native’s book
helps students navigate college
BANGOR — For many college students, Thanksgiving break is a welcome relief, but also a dreaded opportunity to answer the question, “How is school?” A new book by Chapman native Ann James Joles is designed to help struggling students get back on track and take control of their education investment.
After teaching for many years at the University of Maine, Joles, who lives in Bangor, found herself repeatedly working with college students who did not understand how to navigate higher education. This unfortunate reality led her to write her first book: “Sink or Swim: The Incredibly Simple Rules for a Healthy, Low-Stress, and Successful College Education.”
The second in the series, for high school students considering their education options, will be released in time for spring. The book is designed to help students understand the expectations of the college experience.
“College isn’t anything like high school,” said Joles, “so it is only natural that many students have no idea what the rules are or what faculty expect from them. College success is all about the little things ‚Ä“ staying focused, scheduling enough time to complete an assignment, reading the chapters, talking to faculty, and getting enough sleep.”
She continued, “Actions that seem completely obvious and easy to parents are far from second nature to many young college students facing the distractions of dorm life and the responsibilities of being away from home.”
Obtaining a college degree is a sizable challenge today, Joles explained. In May, the Wall Street Journal published that student loan debt for the Class of 2015 reached more than $35,000, and a 2011 Harvard research study, “Pathways to Prosperity,” found that only 56 percent of students enrolled in a four-year degree program will graduate in less than six years.
With this sort of news commonplace, she said, it is vital that students and families understand all they can about higher education.
Sink or Swim is available in digital format as well as paperback, and is a quick, entertaining, and honest read designed to help students at any stage in the semester get control of their study habits and stress level. Parents will find the material useful in understanding the pressures facing today’s college students that were unimaginable two decades ago, such as social media and the demands of technology.
Joles’ book is available at Bangor’s own Bookmarcs and at Amazon.com. Resources and more information on college success are available on Joles’ professional Facebook page, Academic Intel, where she shares updates, workshop information and welcomes questions from students and parents. Academic coaching is also available.
The author is the daughter of Lois James of Presque Isle and the late Don James. Her husband, Christopher Joles, is the son of Ginny and Jerry Joles of Mapleton.
