The Wellness Club of our school organized an insightful and interactive workshop on Overcoming Performance Anxiety on 8th October, 2026, in the Media Room. The session was conducted by renowned Psychiatrist Dr. Adnan Colombowala (MBBS, MD, DNB - Psychiatry) who is also an Alumnus of our school.

 The workshop aimed to help students understand and manage the anxiety that often arises before stage performances, public speaking and examinations.

 As an ice breaker, Dr. Colombowala interacted with the students as an alumnus which greatly helped them in connecting to him thereby becoming more receptive to where he was leading them. He began the session by normalizing performance anxiety, explaining the physiological reasons behind symptoms like sweaty palms, racing heartbeat and mental blocks. He emphasized that anxiety is not a weakness but a natural response that can be managed effectively. With his personal experiences he made the students feel relaxed and at ease.

 The session was highly interactive and activity-based. Students were introduced to practical and easy-to-use techniques including :

 - Deep breathing and grounding exercises

- Cognitive restructuring to challenge negative self-talk

- Visualization and positive affirmation techniques

- Tips for preparation and practice before a performance

 Students actively participated in the breathing exercises and shared their personal experiences, making the session very relatable and engaging. The Q&A round at the end was particularly helpful, where Dr. Colombowala patiently addressed queries related to exam stress, public speaking and stage fear.The workshop was greatly appreciated by the students. It equipped students with valuable life skills to stay calm, confident and in control. 

What made the session truly special was that Dr. Colombowala is one of our very own alumni. Students were deeply inspired to see someone who once walked the same corridors and sat in the same classrooms, now achieving such remarkable success and returning to give back to his alma mater the goodness he received from it.

Our senior teacher, Ms. Vipula Bhagat, fondly recalled having seen Dr. Adnan grow from a reserved and anxious child into a confident and accomplished psychiatrist. The Wellness Club extends its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Adnan Colombowala for his time and service.

Ms. Sharon Buthello

Wellness Club Co-ordinator