Error 404: Costume Not Found!

Halloween is basically a sugar-powered youth festival and it’s celebrated with gusto around the world

Who eats the most candy on Halloween?
Turns out, it’s not just the little ones.
🎃 Teens (13–17) and college students (18–24) actually top the charts — munching through more sweets than any other age group! Could be nostalgia. Could be stress. Either way, if you still need a quick costume, check out this easy & fun options 👇

• 🪓 Error 404: Costume Not Found”

  Level: Easiest | Cost: Free

  Plain white T-shirt+Write “Error 404: Costume Not Found” in black marker.

  Optional: add “AI Malfunction Detected” on the back.
  It’s lazy and geeky — and everyone gets it.

• 👻 ChatGPT Gone Rogue

  Level: Easy | Cost: ~Free

  Add a grey or white hoodie and tape a cardboard “tablet” to your chest labeled “ChatGPT v9.9 — Self-Aware Edition+Add funny stickers like “Error 404: Ethics Not Found” and “Prompt Me if You Dare.”

  👏 Bonus: Answer every question in a monotone AI voice and occasionally say, “I’m sorry, I can’t let you do that.”

While writing this post I came across the concept of Digital Halloween — and at first, I thought it was a joke! 👻 Turns out it started during the pandemic with Zoom parties, virtual haunted classrooms, and AI costume filters. Now, with GenZ and Alpha practically living online, celebrating Halloween digitally just makes perfect sense!

Here’s how your counterparts on the virtual side are still continuing the Digital Halloween trend:

• AI & AR costumes: Teens use filters on TikTok, Snapchat, and Zoom instead of traditional costumes.

• AI-generated looks: Artists create spooky mashups, like “What if Barbie was haunted by ChatGPT?”

• Virtual events: Communities on Reddit, Discord, Roblox, and Fortnite throw annual Halloween parties online.

• Brand campaigns: Even big names like Spotify, Duolingo, and Roblox join in with their own “Online Halloween” promotions.So, while it’s not an official holiday yet 🎃 , it’s a real trend mixing social media, memes, AI, and virtual fun!

Why CampusTalk
This is only my recent attempt at writing a newsletter — so think of it as a work-in-progress, just like all of us. As an educator (and a mom), this is my little contribution to your student journey.
I’ll be honest: I’m a little obsessed with the opportunities emerging for students of every age. There’s no shortage of noise out there. So I thought to bring you something different. The overlooked stories-small insights. The ideas that can actually help you chart your own path through all this change.Happy reading!!

Dear Technology,
Subject: ‘Choose your hard’.

Founder’s Hustle
🚀 Anyone hunting side-projects:: what if the trick isn’t about blocking … it was boring? Imagine a Chrome/Edge extension that flips distracting sites — TikTok, Instagram, shopping portals — into greyscale mode.No colors. No dopamine hits. 🌓Bonus: It’s an easy MVP. A simple browser extension, small dev lift, fast to test!

Studies show grayscale mode helps cut down screen time and supports digital well-being — making it perfect for those high-focus weeks. Now, did you know one of the simplest ways to cut down your screen time is to flip your phone into greyscale mode? 🔳 No colors, no dopamine-triggering notifications — just black, white, and shades of grey.

It works because our brains find colorful screens far more engaging. Strip away the color, and suddenly scrolling feels less fun.Just a dull screen that makes endless scrolling way less tempting.

Step 1: Hide the apps.
Step 2: Deactivate.
Step 3: Delete.

Dear Graduates.
Subject: Meet Gabriela Nguyen 

Goal: Helping people imagine life without doomscrolling, dopamine hits, and 3-hour screen reports.💪 Founder’s Hustle:Testing “transitional tech”

🌓 Bonus: It’s not anti-tech-It’s pro-being-present. ✨Would you subscribe to be offline?

Dear Highschooler,
Subject: Reach for the stars—even if you land somewhere else.

Here are two incredible, accessible programs I came across—whether STEM-focused or just space-curious hope one of them might be your launch moment. 🚀

👩‍🚀 NASA’s Open Science Program
Free, online, and open to all motivated students—no matter your academic background. It builds curiosity, initiative, and looks great on applications.

🛰 Purdue’s Undergraduate Certificate in Space Engineering
For motivated students, this program offers documented experience in topics like space exploration, power, life support, and policy—right from undergrad.

Look, I know programs like these aren’t always rocket science…(okay, sometimes they are 😄) and I get it—your interests will change. That’s totally normal. But when you try things like this -high quality, interesting opportunities that’ll stick with you—in your “interested drift” phase (totally normal, btw)—I hope one of them sparks something in you. Who knows? This might be your launch moment. 🚀

Dear Space Enthusiast,
Subject:Space, no coding required

A free online Space Summit on Nov 14 about education, careers, philosophy and experiences in space. No tech knowledge needed — can be a fun evening of big ideas and good conversation.”You don’t need to be a coder, engineer, or space nerd to get so much from an event.

Here’s a tight, practical guide for people who want “just the space” — no code, no tech-speak — and the real ways you can benefit, contribute, and have fun. Astronauts, educators, artists and policymakers, all in one virtual screen. Conversations at these events tend to be accessible and full of human stories.Space events are as much about stories, ideas, culture and community as they are about hardware and software. Cosmic future anyone!!

Summit to the Stratosphere 👉️ Reasons to Show Up if you are in Australia:

• Real-life “we built this in school” satellites blasting to the sky.

• Future engineers, space nerds, and creators all in one place.

• Zero entry fees. 🚀 

The UK’s version of ‘earn while you learn”- a perfect mix of education, career prep & experience. Looking to start a career in business, engineering, production, journalism or a digital field? Well, look no further! Applications for the BBC apprenticeships are now open. Did you apply?

I am in high school: explain it to me 👇️ 

Introducing the Future Career Decks — The “future of work” is built by students who tinker early. Studying sports or athletics?The sports world is evolving faster than ever. You’re not limited to playing on the field or coaching. Want to break into sports tech or analytics? Start small & start now. Sport is no longer just played — it’s engineered. Try experimenting with:

• Sports analytics platforms

• Wearable performance tech

• VR or AI-based training tools

Even one solid AI-powered sports analysis project in your portfolio can make you stand out from the crowd.Here are 5 emerging careers you might see (or even create) in the near future:

Interested or stuck on where to begin?
DM me — I’ll connect you with university students already building projects in this space.
Network. Collaborate. Build.

^{Thank you for NOT (un)subscribing!}

^{You’re getting this update in your inbox because you are a part of the CampusTALK community—whether as a student aiming high, an educator, a curious reader, or a supportive parent. CampusTALK is meant as a space for all kinds of Education News-one post at a time. Happy Reading!!}