On Friday, June 14, 2024, approximately two hundred 11th-grade students and thirty accompanying teachers from MAN 1 Serang visited the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Padjadjaran (Fapsi Unpad). The MAN 1 Serang delegation arrived at Fapsi at 8:45 AM and was directed to the EF Hall of Building 2 or the R. Mar’at Wiradimadja Building.

The visit began with an opening, followed by welcome speeches from Dr. Yanti Rubiyanti, M.Psi, Psychologist, known as Mba Yanti, representing Fapsi Unpad, and Dr. Momon Andriwinata, S.Pd, M.Pd, the principal of MAN 1 Serang. Then, Mba Yanti provided information about Fapsi Unpad. The presentation aimed to introduce Fapsi Unpad and motivate the visiting students to pursue their undergraduate studies at Fapsi Unpad. The attending students showed great enthusiasm.

After the information session, an open Q&A session was held between the students of MAN 1 Serang and Mba Yanti. Additionally, Mba Yanti encouraged some questions to be answered by other students. The first question, posed by a student, was about which subjects are essential to master for studying psychology and why. Mba Yanti responded that students should focus on mastering English, Mathematics, and Biology. Mastery of English would help them understand psychology textbooks, most of which are in English, Mathematics would assist them in courses involving calculations like Statistics, and Biology would aid in understanding the human body’s structure, particularly in relation to psychology.

Another student asked about the urgency of studying the human mind. Mba Yanti explained that studying the human mind allows us to understand the underlying factors of behavior, such as emotions, perception, motivation, and interests. Lastly, a student inquired about the greatest benefits of psychology in various aspects of life. Mba Yanti invited students to share their opinions. One student mentioned that studying psychology is crucial because, as social beings, humans benefit from understanding each other better. Mba Yanti added that psychology is beneficial in fields such as interpersonal, intrapersonal, organizational, education, and others.

The Q&A session was followed by the impressions and messages from a student volunteer. A student named Danang came forward and generally expressed, “I am proud. I hope that this study tour provides us with beneficial knowledge and refreshes our minds and responses to be positive again.”

He also expressed gratitude for arriving safely and praised the detailed and comprehensible presentation by the lecturer. Lastly, on behalf of his friends, he asked for the teachers’ and lecturers’ prayers and guidance so they could become fortunate and beneficial individuals for the country and various aspects of the world.

Following the impressions and messages session, the visit continued with the exchange of souvenirs, including plaques, between the representatives of Fapsi Unpad and MAN 1 Serang. Additionally, MAN 1 Serang presented a gift of peanuts. After the souvenir exchange, the visitors were directed to take group photos and then free photos around the Fapsi Unpad area.

The Public Relations team also interviewed one of the accompanying teachers, Mrs. Siti Umsinah, about her hopes for the students from this visit to Fapsi Unpad. She expressed her hope that the students would gain insights and motivation to continue their studies beyond high school.

During the free photo session, Mba Yanti and Mrs. Dini, the visit coordinator, had a brief conversation. Mrs. Dini asked for Mba Yanti’s impressions of the visit from MAN 1 Serang. Mba Yanti mentioned that MAN 1 Serang was the first school to bring so many students and teachers, filling the EF Hall. The visiting students were enthusiastic and interactive, displaying a level of insight beyond that of typical visiting students. The conversation concluded with mutual expressions of gratitude and apologies for any shortcomings from both representatives.