In an effort to support final-year students in completing their studies, the Career Center and Counseling Unit of Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), through the Institute for Educational and Professional Development (LPPP), held an event titled “Mental Flexibility: The Key to Overcoming Study Completion Challenges.” The session took place on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the 2nd floor of the Prof. Satmoko Building, LPPP UNNES.
The session featured guest speaker Mr. Drajat Edy Kurniawan, S.Pd., M.Pd., a counseling practitioner and lecturer in Guidance and Counseling at Universitas PGRI Semarang. He encouraged students to recognize the importance of mental flexibility in managing academic pressures, particularly during the thesis-writing phase.
A total of 91 students from various study programs currently working on their theses, scientific publications, or MBKM activity reports attended the session. Through interactive discussions, participants explored common challenges faced by final-year students, including topic uncertainty, procrastination, strained relationships with supervisors, as well as academic and social pressures.
According to the speaker, mental flexibility is a crucial skill for adapting to change, accepting constructive feedback, and avoiding the trap of perfectionism. With this ability, students can better manage stress and approach their studies with calmness and creativity.
This activity served not only as a space for sharing and reflection but also as part of UNNES’s commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, by recognizing the vital role of student mental health in academic success.
At the end of the session, participants were invited to write personal reflections on the challenges they face and how they could respond to them with greater flexibility. “A thesis is not just about graduation; it’s about building a resilient and adaptable self,” Drajat concluded with an inspiring message.
