FLAME Upskill Series 2025

This session will examine the profound effects of social media applications and artificial intelligence on the mental health of high school students. We will explore both the positive and negative impacts, including the potential for enhanced social connection and resources, alongside issues such as anxiety, depression, and cyberbullying. Participants will gain insights into how algorithms can shape self-esteem and body image perceptions. Engaging discussions will provide strategies for promoting healthy tech habits among teens. Join us as we navigate the complex relationship between social media, AI, and the mental well-being of young people today.

Writers often wonder how they can strengthen their craft—what small changes or habits might make their writing more powerful. While there are countless ways to enhance your skills, such as reading widely or studying films, there's one fundamental shift you can make right now that will have a disproportionate and exponential impact on your writing. Join this insightful session to uncover the secret to unlocking your writing potential and discover the ONE change that can elevate your writing overnight. Don't miss the chance to revolutionize your approach to storytelling.

This online session introduces students to the idea that creativity is not limited to art or design but is a powerful everyday skill. Through an engaging, talk-based format filled with relatable examples, visual slides, and light chat-based interaction, students will explore how creative thinking shows up in school life, social media, problem-solving, and even daily hacks. The session aims to shift their mindset from “I’m not creative” to “I already use creativity in my own way,” leaving them with practical tips to build and trust their creative instincts.

Social media platforms such Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (now X), YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Snapchat are an indispensible and unavoidable presence in modern life. They provide an astonishing range of services including social connections, advertising, business-building, citizen-government communication, corporate communication, citizen activism, video sharing, image sharing etc. On the other hand, these social media platforms also pose a tremendous range of risks including recruitment efforts by terrorist organizations, espionage by foreign intelligence agencies, rumor mongering, reputation destruction, hate mongering, job scams etc. How do governments regulate social media? How do we maximize the positive potentialities of social media while minimizing its negative risks? This session will explore both the promise and the perils of social media and engage students in discussions on current government rules and what they think should be the future government outlook towards social media?

In today’s increasingly connected world, scams are more sophisticated than ever—making awareness and prevention essential. This session equips participants with the tools to recognize, avoid, and respond to scams both online and offline. From understanding how scams operate to learning practical ways to protect personal information, the session offers clear strategies for staying safe. It also covers how to take action if targeted and how to build a scam-resistant mindset rooted in awareness, skepticism, and proactive habits. Whether you're new to the topic or seeking to strengthen your defenses, this session is your guide to becoming scam-smart.

Have you ever wondered why some ads feel irresistible, while others barely register in your mind? Behind every "click" and "buy" lies a complex interplay of neural triggers, emotional cues, and cognitive shortcuts. This talk unpacks the fascinating world where neuroscience meets advertising-revealing how your brain is subtly persuaded before you even realize it.