University Orientation Week 2025: Know Yourself, Ready to Make an Impact
Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW) once again held its annual University Orientation Week (OKA) to welcome new students for the 2025/2026 academic year. Running from August 25 to 30, 2025, the program serves as the gateway for new students to get to know the campus environment, build relationships, and embrace Duta Wacana Core Values as the foundation of their academic and social journey at UKDW.
This year’s University Orientation Week spotlighted an issue highly relevant to today’s generation: mental health. Framed by the reflective concept Ātma-Darśana (आत्म-दर्शन), meaning “a vision of the true self,” OKA 2025 invited students to pause and look inward in a world that often feels fast-paced and overwhelming.
In the digital era, students are increasingly challenged by anxiety, depression, burnout, and even social media addiction. The culture of comparison on online platforms can heighten insecurity, fuel FOMO (fear of missing out), and create feelings of inadequacy. Social media, once mainly a source of entertainment, now also poses risks of identity crises and mental health struggles.
Through Ātma-Darśana, OKA 2025 underscored that a person’s worth is not defined by GPA or academic performance alone, but by self-awareness and the willingness to grow. University, students were reminded, is not just about chasing achievements but about discovering one’s identity. What truly matters is maturity in understanding oneself and the drive to keep learning.
A highlight of this year’s program was the launch of the “Lapor OKA” stage, a space for new students to express themselves and reflect openly. Beyond introducing campus life, it provided a safe platform to share thoughts, worries, and aspirations. This initiative emphasized that every student faces their own challenges, and that caring for mental health is a vital part of thriving in academic life.
More than just an annual orientation, OKA 2025 was framed as a process of character formation and community building. With inspiring speakers and reflective activities, new students were encouraged to enter this chapter of life with balance, resilience, and a readiness to grow together.
Ultimately, OKA 2025 reminded students that university is not only a place to study but also a space for self-discovery and personal growth. With this spirit, the new students are ready to embrace new opportunities and build a meaningful future.
Welcome, UKDW new students! May every step you take become a foundation for growth—today and in the years to come. SORBUM!
W-ID: Imel | Ed. (ENG): drr
