Get to know students more closely for a more focused future

Good parents, headmaster, guru, and students definitely want the best for their future at school. Parents send their children to school to get a better education, useful for the future, and many positive dreams. The principal, teachers and education staff also have the same intention. Want to provide the best educational services to students. Students definitely want to feel comfortable and happy while studying at school. The hope is that everything will have a positive impact.

This is the case at the school where I have served as principal since February 2023 ago. Regarding student mentoring programs, there are many coaching focal points that I want to do. Two months on, I haven't seen any specifically programmed extracurricular activities. Even though in the distribution of additional tasks, I see that there are many forms of extracurricular activities at this school. By interviewing the student body, It turns out this happens due to many factors, including the impact of the pandemic on student motivation. My confusion continued during the registration period for state university entrance selection. Students' interest in continuing their education is still lacking. There are also students who are confused about what major to choose in college and where they want to continue.

The conditions above made me think hard about facing challenges in providing student assistance that suits their talents or interests as well as family support.

Schools must design mentoring programs that favor students. Therefore, I, as the leader, invited the student affairs section, curriculum, homeroom teacher, and guidance and counseling teachers to discuss these challenges. The main actions we carry out are as follows:

1. Develop diagnostic assessment instruments in the form of online questionnaires and surveys through interviews and direct observation. Assisted by a sports teacher, art teacher, informatics teacher, and daily supervisor of the OSIS.
2. Carry out assessments for all students. For classes XI and XII, additional questions were asked regarding plans for further education and family support.
3. Analyze the assessment results then map them based on several things. For example; (a) the ability to read the Koran and memorize surahs, (b) English language skills, (c) talent/interest in sports, art, publik speaking, authorship, sastra, and others, (d)quote-quote, (e) further education plans, (f) parent/family support.
4. Present the mapping results in the teacher council discussion forum
5. Forming an accompanying team according to extracurricular development duties and a special team to assist further education preparation for class XII.
6. Deliver the program to parents/guardians and discuss student potential with parents/guardians.
7. Carrying out extracurricular member recruitment by considering the mapping results.
8. Collaborate with alumni and community leaders who can inspire students for a more focused future.

The mentoring program based on mapping the results of this assessment has had a very positive impact on students and the school. Students are actively involved in filling out the instruments and discussing freely with their guidance and counseling teachers and homeroom teachers. Extracurricular activities are starting to become active again at school. There are extracurriculars that have been frozen for a long time and are now active again, ie English Club. The student affairs department already has data about students' talents and interests so that mentoring services are not general and uniform for all students. Including assistance for class XII who will continue their education at state universities, private, officialdom, and others. Although some students still often change their minds regarding their goals and further plans, Teachers can still provide motivation and various considerations to students. The hope, no more students choose the wrong major in college. So that they can live freely and happily.