Visit of Scorpion King

A Flight Cancellation, an Old Friend, and the Future of YCS

It started with an airline hiccup. Jimmy Pdang, returning from the FABC conference in Malaysia, found his Indigo flight canceled. What seemed like an inconvenience became a delightful surprise—an unexpected few days to reconnect after a year.

We met at our cherished old haunt, The Third Place (Professors Leo and Vaishali’s home), a place where time slows down and genuine conversation begins.

💖 Rejuvenating the Past: The Power of Connection

For a beautiful, restorative time, we dove into happy memories, reminiscing about our days in the Young Christian Students (YCS) movement. Every shared moment felt special, revealing a new, deeper layer of understanding about the movement's enduring spirit.

The energy was palpable. It wasn't just nostalgia; it was a powerful reflection on giving back and the foundational principles that shaped us.

🤔 The Lingering Question: YCS in the Age of AI

As we talked, one question kept circling back, a fundamental challenge for anyone working with young minds today:

How do we sustain a time-tested methodology, like the YCS's See-Judge-Act, when the world has shifted to AI algorithms and "see my insta" immediacy?

The landscape has changed dramatically. Young people navigate a reality defined by fleeting digital trends, constant validation, and machine-driven information. Can our "old ways" of critical thinking, reflection, and committed action still break through the noise to inspire genuine change?

💡 The Spark of Reflection

Our visit concluded with a peaceful stop at Arul Kadal, a Jesuit theology center, where we were graciously hosted. As Jimmy bid farewell, leaving me with a sense of renewal, I realized the answer isn't to abandon the methodology, but to re-contextualize it.

The core of YCS is not outdated; it's the tools we use to execute it that need an upgrade. The See-Judge-Act framework is exactly what equips young people to decode and act responsibly within the complex world of AI and social media.

The Challenge We Must Carry Forward:

See: How do we teach youth to "see" beyond the curated feed—to analyze the deeper socio-economic trends hidden in a viral TikTok or an AI-generated image?

Judge: How do we apply universal human and ethical values to new challenges like digital ethics, privacy, and bias in algorithms?

Act: How do we inspire actions that are meaningful both in the community and compelling enough to drive change in the digital sphere?

This unexpected encounter was more than just a reunion; it was a spark that ignited a necessary reflection. The question is now set: The methodology endures, but the medium must evolve.

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