EduAsiaNews, Jakarta – Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ) equipped 148 Patribera 2026 mentors through a seminar and mini-workshop titled “Agility & Happiness” on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. Held at the Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Auditorium, the event featured Daru Dewayanto, Founder and Master Coach of HADE, as the keynote speaker.
The seminar was attended by Catur Nugrahaeni, UPNVJ University Event Coordinator, along with members of the organizing committee. The program formed part of the university’s efforts to strengthen mentors’ capacity by enhancing their adaptability, mental resilience, and ability to manage thoughts and emotions before guiding incoming students during the Patribera 2026 orientation program.
In his presentation, Daru highlighted the growing concern over mental health among young people. Citing findings from the Indonesia National Adolescent Mental Health Survey (I-NAMHS) 2022, he noted that one in three Indonesian adolescents experienced mental health problems within the previous 12 months, while approximately one in twenty met the diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder.
These findings underscore the importance of preparing mentors to understand that supporting new students extends beyond delivering information and coordinating orientation activities. Mentors must also foster communication that is safe, supportive, and responsive to students’ psychological well-being.
During the interactive session, Daru invited participants to reflect on the meaning of happiness. Mentors were asked to illustrate what happiness meant from their own perspectives, discuss their views in small groups, and explain how they achieved personal fulfillment.
According to the session, happiness is not necessarily attained by constantly pursuing it. Rather, it develops when individuals are able to accept their circumstances, understand themselves, and find meaning in the experiences they encounter.
Beyond the discussion of happiness, Daru introduced the concept of antifragility, which expands upon the traditional idea of resilience. Under this concept, individuals do not merely withstand adversity but become stronger and grow through challenges.
He explained the distinction between fragile, robust, and antifragile conditions. Fragile individuals are easily overwhelmed by pressure, robust individuals can endure challenges without significant change, whereas antifragile individuals use adversity as an opportunity for learning, growth, and self-development.
The concept is particularly relevant to the role of Patribera mentors, who will encounter students with diverse backgrounds, needs, and personal circumstances. Unexpected situations should not only be managed effectively but also serve as opportunities to strengthen mentors’ decision-making, communication, empathy, and teamwork skills.
Participants also learned to recognize Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs)—recurring negative thought patterns related to self-perception, judgments of others, or concerns about the future.
Through a reflective exercise titled “Killing ANTs,” participants were guided to identify negative thoughts, question their validity, examine their influence on emotions and behavior, imagine alternative perspectives, and reassess previously held conclusions.
The interactive approach ensured that participants engaged actively rather than simply receiving theoretical instruction. Around 50 mentors took part in group discussions, reflected on personal experiences, shared perspectives, and practiced cognitive strategies that can be applied both in everyday life and while mentoring new students.
The presence of Catur Nugrahaeni and the organizing committee reaffirmed UPNVJ’s commitment to preparing the Patribera 2026 orientation program comprehensively. Preparations extend beyond technical arrangements to include strengthening the mental readiness and professional capacity of those who will interact directly with incoming students.
Through the “Agility & Happiness” seminar, UPNVJ hopes its Patribera 2026 mentors will become adaptive, resilient, empathetic, and solution-oriented facilitators. These competencies are essential for creating an educational, safe, inclusive, and student-centered campus orientation experience that reflects the university’s State Defense (Bela Negara) values. (www.upnvj.ac.id)
