Beginning life as a university student is not only about entering the lecture hall, getting to know lecturers, or tackling the first academic assignments. For some new students, this period of transition also means learning to live independently, adapting to a new environment, building friendships, and managing a range of worries that come along with all of it at once.

This awareness, that the academic journey requires more than just intellectual readiness, is one of the concerns UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta continues to address. Through health screenings for new students, the university seeks to build an educational environment that pays attention to student wellbeing as a whole, both physical and psychological.

On the second day of the health screening program for new students of the 2026/2027 academic year, 103 students from the Social Welfare Studies Program (IKS), Faculty of Da'wah and Communication (FDK), took part in a series of examinations at the FDK Theatrical Hall on Tuesday (9/15/2026).

This activity is the result of collaboration between FDK UIN Sunan Kalijaga, the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Pratama Clinic, and Puskesmas Depok 3 Yogyakarta (a community health center). The examinations included measurement of weight and height, blood pressure, blood sugar, checkups by a general practitioner and a dentist, and a psychological assessment through the Pojok Psikolog (Psychologist's Corner) service.

The presence of this service forms part of an effort toward early detection and education, so that students become aware of the importance of recognizing and maintaining their health from the very beginning of their higher education journey.

Amid increasingly complex academic demands, UIN Sunan Kalijaga does not see students merely as learners expected to achieve academic accomplishment. They are also individuals who are growing, adapting, and navigating the many dynamics of life.

For that reason, attention to mental health is an important part of the screening process. Through the Pojok Psikolog service, students have the opportunity to undergo psychological screening and receive initial information about their mental health condition.

Psychologist at Puskesmas Depok 3 Yogyakarta, Elly Ervinawati, S.Psi., Psikolog, explained that screening is an initial step to identify a person's psychological state, not a clinical diagnosis.

“Among the students whose screening results have come back, some may show indications of depression or anxiety. If a mental health issue is clearly diagnosed, we recommend they visit a primary healthcare facility or the nearest community health center to receive services from a psychologist,” she explained.

According to Elly, students' lives can be shaped by a range of factors, family environment, parenting patterns, academic pressures, friendships, and relationships within the educational setting. The transition into university life can present its own set of challenges, particularly for students who are learning to live independently and adjust to a new environment.

In such circumstances, support from one's immediate surroundings becomes important. Parents, family, close friends, and the educational environment can all serve as part of a support system that helps students through their process of growth.

“As parents, one should offer support for the choices their child makes. That doesn't mean agreeing with everything one hundred percent, but offering a wise and thoughtful perspective,” Elly said.

That experience of adaptation is one Indana Zulfa, a new student in the Social Welfare Studies Program, knows well. Originally from Cirebon, Indana is now navigating a new phase of life as both a student and someone living away from home in Yogyakarta.

A new environment, friends she has yet to get to know well, and coursework she has never faced before are all part of a process she must learn to navigate step by step.

“Sometimes I feel anxious when a lecturer assigns a presentation or a paper, especially when I don't yet know how to go about doing it. Since this is my first time living away from home, I also haven't gotten to know many friends yet, and I still feel worried about going places on my own,” she shared.

For Indana, who describes herself as more introverted, adapting is not something that happens quickly. She has chosen to take it slowly, gradually getting to know new friends, communicating with lecturers, and growing accustomed to campus life.

When feelings of worry arise, she also tries to stay in touch with the people closest to her.

“When I start feeling anxious, I usually call my parents or my close friends from high school. After that, I feel calmer and can settle my thoughts again,” she said.

Indana's experience reflects how, behind a student's first steps into university, lies a process of adaptation that looks different for everyone. Some must learn to face new academic demands; others must adjust to life far from family. Within this process, a supportive campus environment becomes an important part of the student learning experience.

Elly reminded students that the academic journey needs to be pursued with balance. Students need to take responsibility for their studies, but should also give themselves space to rest, build social relationships, and engage in activities that support mental health.

"Please go ahead and study well and pursue your education properly, but it's also perfectly fine to occasionally chat casually with friends. Setting aside time for yourself is also important for supporting our mental health, as is always taking care of our physical condition by eating healthy food," she advised.

That balance, she added, still needs to be accompanied by a sense of responsibility toward students' primary purpose in pursuing their education.

“At the same time, don't let the desire to have fun all the time cause your studies, which should remain the main priority, to fall behind," she continued.

Through an approach that attends to both physical and psychological health together, UIN Sunan Kalijaga seeks to offer students a more holistic educational experience. The collaboration between the faculty, the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Pratama Clinic, and Puskesmas Depok 3 also reflects the importance of synergy in building a campus ecosystem that supports the wellbeing of its academic community.

For UIN Sunan Kalijaga, preparing students for their academic journey means more than simply equipping them with knowledge. Education is also a process of helping students understand themselves, grow in a healthy way, and develop the ability to adapt to life's many challenges.

The ongoing health screening program for new students of the 2026/2027 academic year, carried out according to schedule, stands as one of the early steps in that commitment. From the moment they enter the university, students are encouraged to understand that caring for their health, both body and mind, is an essential part of the journey toward their future.

With a stronger foundation of health and wellbeing, UIN Sunan Kalijaga hopes students will be able to pursue their studies optimally, grow in a well-rounded way, and develop into individuals who are not only academically accomplished, but also able to face life's dynamics in a more adaptive and balanced manner. (humassk)