Russell’s Real Lives

Russell Hemmings Real Lives

Meet Srinivasan – My personal hero!


Being confronted by hundreds of your peers on a daily basis, being asked to speak in front of them and be part of a big group, means that if you are shy and lack confidence, school can prove a tough place to be. Lacking confidence and developing social anxiety usually go hand in hand and for 14 year old Srinivisan it was something his new school noticed about him quite quickly.

Having lived in Saudi Arabia for most of his life, his family moved to UAE recently and of course he had to deal with moving to a new school and making new friends, something which took this shy young man right out of his comfort zone. His parents noticed he was struggling.

“Srinivasan really changed when he switched schools. He became quiet and withdrawn and this was exacerbated by the fact that he found social situations overwhelming. It meant that making friends was hard and he was becoming increasingly isolated because of this,” recalls his mum Usha. “His teachers were also becoming increasingly concerned as his grades began to fall. Even though he worked hard at home, his previous excellent academic record was not being maintained and his efforts were not being translated into success.”

When I first met Srinivasan, I was struck by just how shy he was. It was clear that he felt very uncomfortable even in the most unthreatening of social situations and I knew that this was definitely what was holding him back. I have dealt with so many young people who have issues of shyness. It’s a fairly common issue and it helps to confront it early on, so that it doesn’t impede a young person’s potential for success and happiness in the future. Using my specialist coaching techniques and a range of strategies to bolster both physical and mental confidence, I helped to teach Srinivasan how to effectively interact with others and develop the bonds of friendship with his peers.

“He taught him how to have a confident stance, to shake hands confidently and to send out a message that he was walking tall,” says Usha, his mum. “He used to have such a quiet voice, so Russell even boosted his confidence using acting skills to develop an authoritative tone, and now he is able to stand up in front of his classmates without that sense of dread he used to have. Now his academic performance is wowing his teachers, he’s making friends and he’s enjoying life again. It’s incredible how Russell has helped him turn things around. He really understands kids and gets to the heart of the issue quickly. He’s certainly given Srinivasan skills he can take through his whole life and for that we are truly grateful.”

Russell helped Srinivasan with his confidence, and he can help your youngster too. Please call to discover how.

Russell is a child & teen expert in confidence, concentration, social skills, perfectionism, laziness, gadget addiction, study focus, procrastination and time management.

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