Drawing on the concepts introduced in GE2105, I applied them to a piece of popular culture—in this case, the video game Deltarune—to analyse how these ideas appear within the medium. The concept I focused on was “ideology” as defined by Roland Barthes, in which something unnatural is presented as natural within everyday life. In my analysis of Deltarune, I explored how the player’s control over the main protagonist serves as a representation of Ideology. The protagonist’s lack of agency reflects how our individuality can be subtly diminished as Ideology shapes and conditions our lives.

This project, inspired by the film Time Still Turns the Pages, examines key psychological and sociological risk factors affecting young people—for example, depression and low self‑esteem arising from adverse childhood experiences, as well as spoon‑fed education and the labelling of students as failures. Drawing on 54 survey responses and interviews with youths and social workers, we identified academic pressure (63%) and family relationships (65%) as the most significant causes, with more than 90% of respondents reporting reluctance to seek help. The existing three‑tier mechanism was criticised for inadequate resources, privacy concerns, and a predominantly remedial rather than preventive focus. Recommendations include micro‑level practices such as exercise and mindfulness, mezzo‑level school initiatives such as “Study–Life Balance” schemes, and macro‑level government measures, including increased NGO funding and strengthened parental education.

HelpingU is an AI-powered educational web app designed to deliver personalised, emotionally supportive, and collaborative learning for students aged 16-24. Users begin by setting their learning goals, current knowledge level, and timeline. The app then generates a tailored study plan featuring interactive lessons, videos, and quizzes. Its friendly Al tutor, U-Bot, guides students through content, answers questions in real time, and provides animated explanations. HelpingU also monitors emotional well-being, offering support during periods of stress or low motivation. Additionally, it forms optimised study groups using genetic algorithms to enhance peer learning. By combining adaptive learning, emotional intelligence, and collaboration, HelpingU creates an inclusive, mastery-focused learning experience that addresses the shortcomings of current Al platforms.