Sidoarjo, JurnalPost.com — Determining educational and career choices is no easy task for many teenagers, especially when they have not fully identified their own interests and potential. Addressing this issue, a team of lecturers from the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas 17 August 1945 (UNTAG) Surabaya has introduced LUMI (Light Up My Interest), an interest-screening website designed to help teenagers understand their inclinations and prepare for career planning from an early age.
This innovation was introduced through a community service activity titled "Career Up with LUMI (Light Up My Interest): Implementation of an Interest Screening Website and Career Development Psychoeducation for Teenagers at Save Street Child Sidoarjo." The event took place at Sidoarjo Square on Saturday, 4 July 2026, from 15.00 to 17.00 WIB.
The program involved 15 teenagers supported by Save Street Child (SSC) Sidoarjo, who were given the opportunity to identify their interests and potential through digital technology and direct guidance from the academic team.
The activity was led by a team of lecturers from the UNTAG Surabaya Faculty of Psychology, consisting of Inka Sukma Melati, S.Psi., M.Psi., Rizki Dwi Bakhtiar Surin, M.Psi., Psychologist, and Dr. Mamang Efendy, S.Pd., M.Psi.
The implementation was also supported by students from the Psychology and Information Systems and Technology study programs, namely Fadli Bilal Afifuddin, M. Andhika Raharjo, Aulia Shofiya Risa, Linda Anas Tasya Oktaviani, and Devita Permatasari. They served as facilitators, assisting participants throughout the training and the use of the LUMI website.
Identifying Interests and Potential through Digital Technology
During the event, participants were invited to use the LUMI website to conduct an interest screening. After completing the screening process, they received guidance to help them understand their results.
Beyond focusing on technology, the activity included psychoeducation sessions on career development, self-potential awareness, and the importance of planning for the future based on individual interests and abilities.
The event was also attended by the Head of Save Street Child Sidoarjo, Dwi Prasetyo, S.Psi., M.Psi., who supports efforts to develop youth potential through collaboration with universities.
One of the lecturers on the service team, Inka Sukma Melati, explained that utilizing technology in psychological services can be an alternative to expanding teenagers' access to self-development resources.
"We want to provide an early detection tool for teenage interests that is more accessible. LUMI not only helps them identify their interests but also serves as a gateway to building self-awareness, understanding their potential, and creating a more directed career plan," said Inka.
According to her, the results of the LUMI screening are not an absolute determinant of a person's educational or career choices. Instead, the information obtained is intended to serve as a starting point for reflection, allowing teenagers to explore various career possibilities that align with their characteristics, abilities, and interests.
This approach is important so that teenagers are not only oriented toward specific majors or jobs but also understand the reasoning behind the decisions they will make.
Participants Enthusiastically Discuss the Future
Throughout the event, the teenagers showed great enthusiasm in participating in the interest screening and psychoeducation sessions.
The discussion was interactive, covering various questions about choosing educational majors, aspirations, and the challenges faced in preparing for the future.
Through guidance from the lecturers and students, participants were encouraged to understand the relationship between their interests, abilities, and career opportunities. Consequently, the screening results did not stop at mere information about interest trends but served as a basis for deeper discussion on self-potential.
The combination of digital technology and a psychological approach was a key component of the program. The use of the website made it easier for participants to undergo the screening process, while the psychoeducation sessions helped them interpret the results within the context of their daily lives.
The Head of Save Street Child Sidoarjo, Dwi Prasetyo, expressed his appreciation for the collaboration with the UNTAG Surabaya Faculty of Psychology team.
He noted that the activity provided a new experience for the teenagers in understanding themselves through a scientific approach presented in a simple and easy-to-understand manner.
This collaboration also serves as a form of support for the teenagers under the care of SSC Sidoarjo, providing them with broader access to information and guidance regarding self-development and career planning.
Beyond Screening: Continuing with Individual Counseling
The Career Up with LUMI program was not designed as a one-time educational event. The service team has also prepared a follow-up phase involving individual counseling services for the teenagers supported by Save Street Child Sidoarjo.
This guidance aims to help participants explore their potential more deeply, recognize their personal strengths and challenges, and increase their confidence in making educational and career choices.
Through counseling sessions, participants are expected to have the opportunity to discuss various issues related to their future in a more personal setting.
This step is part of the service team's effort to develop a mentoring model that combines interest screening, psychoeducation, and psychological counseling.
With this sustainable approach, the information obtained from the LUMI website is expected to serve as a foundation for creating more realistic self-development plans tailored to each participant's needs.
Expanding Access to Teenage Career Development Services
The development of LUMI is a contribution from the UNTAG Surabaya Faculty of Psychology in utilizing technology to support psychological services and career development in the community.
Through this community service activity, the university not only presents digital-based innovation but also strives to bridge the gap in teenagers' needs for guidance in identifying their potential and planning their future.
The partnership with Save Street Child Sidoarjo is expected to open opportunities for similar programs that reach more teenagers, especially those who need access to self-development and career guidance.
The service team hopes that LUMI can continue to be developed as a support tool for teenagers to identify their interests, explore educational options, and consider career opportunities in a more directed manner.
With ongoing psychological support, this program is expected to help teenagers build self-confidence and make decisions about their future based on a better understanding of their own potential.
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