On August 27, Ransom Everglades students heard from Dino Ambrosi, founder of the organization Project Reboot, who spoke about developing healthier relationships with technology. Ambrosi’s message was clear: Phones aren’t the enemy, but the way we use them can shape our attention, productivity, and even our well-being.
As part of his talk, Ambrosi recommended students try Clearspace, an app designed to slow down impulsive scrolling by adding intentional pauses, or even requirements that must be fulfilled, before opening social media. The idea is to prompt awareness, helping users distinguish between intentional use and the reflexive urge to open Instagram or TikTok. In the weeks since the assembly, several RE students have tested the app, and many say it’s made a real difference.
For Valentina Capote ’26, the change was immediate. She downloaded Clearspace the day after the assembly and quickly noticed a difference in her focus. “I’ve been more productive than ever,” she said. “That’s especially important for me this year while balancing college applications and schoolwork.” Capote limits her app usage to just a few sessions a day, often one in the morning and one at night, and says the system has helped her feel more in control. “It’s taught me that I don’t need to scroll to unwind. The small limits make me appreciate my time online, and it feels much healthier than doomscrolling.”
Chloe Zaldivar ’26 also gave Clearspace a try right after the assembly, though she’s now the only one in her friend group who still uses it. “At first, we all downloaded it, but I’m the last one standing,” she said, smiling. While she admits that weekends make it harder to stick to her limits, she’s noticed a real shift in her habits. “It used to be automatic. I’d open TikTok the second I unlocked my phone,” she said. “Now, that impulse is gone. I think twice before I open it.”
Clearspace has added an element of accountability that keeps Andres Casal ’26 motivated and disciplined. He and his friends connect through the app, which allows users to see each other’s progress. “Clearspace has definitely made me more productive,” he said. “If I open TikTok more than three times a day, it notifies my friends, and we always check in with each other.”
Many students have also experimented with other strategies inspired by Ambrosi’s assembly. Some place their phones outside their rooms while studying, while others set screen time limits or schedule “scroll-free” hours before bed.
Beyond apps and rules, the assembly left a lasting impression on students through the striking visual in the beginning: a diagram filled with hundreds of circles, each representing a month in an average human life. The shaded section showing how much time the average user would end up spending on their phone surprised many in the audience. Thomas Numa ’27 said seeing this image made him realize how quickly small, daily habits can add up. “Now that I’ve seen how many months I could be spending on a screen in the future, I want to make more conscious choices and let those bubbles be filled with other, more present activities,” he added.
Although each student has approached Ambrosi’s message differently, the takeaway is clear: being mindful and intentional with phone usage creates space for focus, balance, and real connection. For many RE students, the lessons of the assembly, whether through Clearspace, other screen-time limiting strategies, or simply awareness, are already reshaping daily habits and perspectives on technology.
