How to get out of your cocoon

“Time spent in self-reflection is never wasted – it is an intimate date with yourself.”

-Paul TP Wong

The seminar titled “How To Get Out Of Your Cocoon” was conducted on 26th August 2025, at the Concept Hall of the Bhawanipur Education Society College, by Ms. Salony Priya, a distinguished counselling psychologist and the Founder-Director of Ummeed Counselling and Consulting Services. The event lasted for two hours, starting at 11:00 A.M. and continuing until 1:00 P.M. It was graced by the Rector and Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Dilip Shah, who inaugurated the session with inspiring words and felicitated Ms. Salony Priya. The seminar aimed to help students transcend self-imposed limitations, recognise the significance of mental health, and foster interpersonal growth alongside academic pursuits.

Ms. Salony Priya articulated that the “Life of a Cocoon” symbolises our self-imposed boundaries, and she asserted, “When we break out of our shell, that’s when we truly live.” She then explained to the audience “the value of knowledge over marks”, emphasising that academic grades are not the sole indicators of success; rather, knowledge, skills, and self-awareness are the true determinants of an individual’s development. Books and conscious choices shape individuals into what they aspire to become. Her next point of discussion was “breaking conditioning and self-reflection”, where participants were encouraged to overcome societal conditioning and dilemmas tangled within the loop of self-doubt.

“SWOT Analysis” was introduced to the students, where they were instructed to pen down their Strengths (hobbies, preferences, and optimism), Weaknesses (areas requiring improvement, fears, and detrimental habits), Opportunities (resources, financial means, goals, and external support), and Threats (reality checks, obstacles, parental expectations, and societal pressures). In the words of Ms. Salony Priya, in an era dominated by AI and technology, communication skills are indispensable. She emphasised the relevance of psychology in various domains, including MBA programmes, therapy, and life coaching, elucidating misconceptions regarding mental health and explaining the etymology of the term “Psyche”, which is derived from the Latin word “Psycho”, meaning “Mind” or “Brain.”

The seminar delved deeply into teenage mental health issues, suicide prevention, and the importance of addressing emotional well-being. It emphasised the significance of strong interpersonal relationships between teachers and students, an absolute essential for growth. Mentoring was portrayed as a way to help students identify their strengths and navigate through everyday challenges. Her last subject of discussion was “Skill development beyond academics”, where Ms. Priya asserted that education alone is insufficient. The development of skills like communication, frustration tolerance, and decision-making is equally vital. She normalised challenges, which include procrastination, career uncertainties, and social withdrawal, encouraging students to confront these issues rather than evade them. Furthermore, she introduced the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) framework of life skills, which promotes adaptive and positive behaviours that enable individuals to navigate everyday challenges effectively.

The seminar conducted by Ms. Salony Priya offered the audience a spark of clarity, elucidating the essence of integrating psychological insights with practical strategies for both personal and professional development. It motivated students to step beyond their “Cocoon,” engage in self-reflection, and cultivate essential life skills necessary for success in both academic and real-world contexts, as “A cocoon is not a prison, but a preparation; only when we dare to break it do we discover our wings.”

REPORTER – Souptika Nayek