Social Media and Mental Health 

(Students and Parent Presentations)

In a world where social media dominates daily life, many students are feeling more anxious, distracted, and overwhelmed than ever before. As part of Gen Z, they are facing an unprecedented level of pressure to be constantly connected, to curate the perfect online persona, and to keep up with the fastpaced, ever-changing digital landscape. The constant bombardment of content and comparisons can leave students feeling exhausted, insecure, and unsure of where they truly belong. Scott Ste Marie understands these struggles firsthand.

With a background at Twitter Inc, experience managing social media agencies, and over a decade as a YouTuber, Scott has seen the impact of social media from the inside out. In this talk, he invites students to look beyond the screen, exploring how social media use may be a way of us avoiding and developing our true self of sense. Scott engages students with behind-the scenes insights into social platforms, revealing the algorithms that shape their online experience and the personal strategies he uses to manage his own screen time.

Through this candid conversation, students will learn how striving for perfection online can fuel anxiety and how social media subtly influences the way they think, feel, and act. Scott offers practical tools and tricks to help students take control of their digital lives, empowering them to create a healthier, more balanced relationship with their devices. Together, they will discover how to prioritize what truly matters, both online and offline. 

Forging Your Way: Anxiety in a Changing World 

In today's fast-paced and ever-changing world, many students are feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to succeed, anxious about the future, and struggling to find meaning in their lives. As part of Gen Z, they are facing unique challenges that no other generation has encountered before. With the constant influence of social media, endless comparisons, and a world that seems increasingly uncertain, it's easy for students to feel lost, overwhelmed, and disconnected. Scott understands these feelings all too well. Being an online creator and managing a mental illness for over 15 years, he empathizes with the unsettling, felt sense of overwhelm.

In this talk, Scott shares his personal journey, offering valuable insights and practical strategies to help students cope with the pressures they encounter. Scott will explore why so many young people feel this way, providing a deeper understanding of psychological, biological and emotional factors. He will also offer actionable steps to help students find meaning and purpose, even when the world around them feels confusing and intimidating.

This talk is not just another motivational speech—it's a real conversation about the real concerns and struggles students have today and how they can take control of their mental health, build confidence, and move forward in life with an authentic sense of self. Scott invites students to join him in this honest and relatable discussion, where they will discover ways to feel more grounded, resilient, and empowered in their journey ahead.

Unmasking Mental Health

It took years before Scott opened up about his struggle with anxiety and depression. For most, the truth they want to share isn't a mental illness, but simply a desire to share interests, struggles, normal worries and joy with others. The expression of our inner world is what cultivates true freedom in our lives.

In this talk, Scott shares what holds us back from experiencing that freedom so we can develop authentic relationships with others and ourselves. He reminds students that while the world often pressures them to present a perfect image, it is their honesty, vulnerability, and realness that create true connection. By learning to embrace their inner experiences—both the light and the heavy—students can begin to let go of shame, quiet their inner critic, and step into a more grounded sense of who they are. This talk empowers them to see that being human, with all its ups and downs, is not something to hide but something to share—and that’s where real strength and freedom are found.

Mindful Self-Compassion & Stress Reduction

(Teachers & Staff)

Many educators today quietly carry the weight of responsibility, often placing the needs of others above their own. The pressure to guide and nurture students, especially those from Gen Z and Gen Alpha, can sometimes feel overwhelming. With the constant presence of social media, societal comparisons, and an unpredictable world, it’s easy to feel drained and disconnected from oneself.

In this talk, Scott shares his practice of self-compassion and invites educators to turn their care inward. Using mindful self-compassion techniques and drawing from evidence-based practices in neuroscience, Scott explores how the body, mind, and heart are intricately linked in the experience of burnout and compassion fatigue. He reminds us that, just as we extend kindness to others, we can offer it to ourselves.

Scott speaks to a deeper spiritual truth—that when we allow our hearts to open, we can cultivate a connection to others that exchanges energy, rather than depletes it. In this talk, Scott will offer gentle, actionable steps to help teachers and staff reconnect with their own well-being, allowing them to not only support their students but also nourish their own hearts and spirits in a more sustainable and soulful way.

Give Us This Day  

(Catholic School Staff & Mature Students)

Christ’s words, “Give us this day our daily bread,” invite us back into the present moment—into the simplicity of receiving life one day at a time with gratitude. This talk explores how the practice of presence and thanksgiving can transform the way we show up for ourselves, our students, and our communities.

With a Master’s degree in neuroscience, Scott brings together the insights of science and the spiritual wisdom of Christ. He shows how gratitude and mindful awareness support emotional wellbeing, while also pointing to the deeper truth that Christ’s compassion holds everything we fear. The Cross symbolizes not only suffering but also the place where our deepest anxieties and uncertainties are met with love, forgiveness, and renewal.

Through heartfelt storytelling and reflective practice, Scott encourages staff to release the pressure of perfection, to acknowledge the fears that weigh on their hearts, and to discover how Christ’s compassion brings peace in the midst of struggle. Participants will leave with a renewed sense of hope, practical tools for cultivating gratitude, and a deeper spiritual grounding to carry into their daily work.

This is not just a talk on faith or science—it is a conversation about the meeting point of both, where mental health and Christ’s love illuminate a path toward presence, resilience, and true compassion.