Ashvik R

In our Dialogue Club, we will alternate our sessions between two powerful themes: AI & Youth Wellness and Civics & Legal Discussions. AI & Youth Wellness: Led by Ashvik, who has extensive experience in AI, deep learning, and mental health-focused projects. Civics & Legal Discussions: Led by Olivia, an experienced debater with a passion for democracy and global issues. Join a virtual Dialogue Club to form a community with students from around the world. Dialogue Clubs meet every other week to discuss a new topic. By participating in 3+ Dialogue sessions, you will get a Dialogues portfolio you can submit with your college applications to our university partners.

I’m leading a two-part workshop series called “Foundations of AI: From Concepts to Impact” to introduce students to the fundamentals of AI, ethics, and building their own projects. In Session 1, we’ll explore what AI is through real-world examples, then dive into machine learning concepts like data, models, and predictions. I’ll share my journey creating Axelo.org, and guide students through building a simple ML model. We’ll also discuss ethics bias, fairness, and how to prioritize privacy and equity in tech. In Session 2, I’ll break down how neural networks work with visuals and analogies and show students different pathways into AI. Students will then brainstorm their own AI projects using a template to think through a real-world problem, the data they’d use, and the kind of model that could help. I’ll close by sharing how I turned Axelo from an idea into a real product, to show what’s possible with the right mindset and tools.

In this two-part series, we’ll explore what mental health really means, why it matters for teens, and how small daily habits can make a big difference. In Session 1, we’ll unpack key concepts around emotional wellness, common stressors (like academics and social media), and why mental health still carries stigma. In Session 2, we’ll dive deeper into the social and digital side of mental wellness. Through interactive discussions, real-life scenarios, and hands-on activities, students will explore techniques like gratitude journaling, anchoring habits, and sleep routines that help recharge the mind. We’ll also look at how social media affects our mood and connection, and end with a peer challenge to build a new wellness habit. Both sessions are designed to be approachable, empowering, and rooted in science-backed strategies, with bonus resources including top wellness apps and a preview of Ashvik’s AI mental health platform, Axelo.org (currently in beta).