5 Ways of Adaptability Skills during Bangkit Academy Program

In this article, I would like to share the "5 Ways of Adaptability" that I applied during my participation in the "Bangkit Academy 2024 Batch 2" program. Hope this article may be beneficial for the readers!

1. Ways of Interacting

The Bangkit Academy 2024 Batch 2 program was attended by over 4,000 participants from different regions across Indonesia. With such a large number of participants, there was also a wide range of personalities, so I had to adapt to interacting with many kinds of people throughout the program. Moreover, since this program was held entirely online, I had to adapt to remote communication, allowing me to expand my network.

To adapt to this setup, my peers and I communicated through various available online platforms like Discord, which enabled all participants to interact across multiple scopes—whether in the entire group, by learning path, study group, or individually. This platform was chosen as the main means of communication between participants and the entire Bangkit team, facilitating various forms of interaction such as chatting, group calls, and live screen sharing. Additionally, we used the Google Meet platform to support synchronous learning sessions and more private group discussions.

So far, this combination of platforms has effectively supported efficient interaction among all elements of Bangkit Academy 2024 Batch 2. Perhaps this combination could be useful for managing group interactions in your activities as well!

2. Ways of Achieving

During the Bangkit Academy 2024 Batch 2 program, participants were consistently inspired and exposed to insights from various perspectives. Mentors and the Bangkit team constantly emphasized the goals that Bangkit Academy Cohorts should strive to achieve. One example of the motivational messages we heard came from Adhiguna Kuncoro, DPhil, a Senior Researcher in AI at one of the world’s largest tech companies, Google DeepMind, who discussed career prospects in technology and key objectives to pursue in the field.

Based on the motivation and objectives shared, I naturally felt highly driven to accomplish many things. However, I realized the importance of adapting my aspirations to align with my current abilities. If my ambitions are set too far from my current skill level, it can lead to stress and disappointment. Therefore, I decided to set several big, long-term goals for the future while establishing smaller, short-term goals to help me progress toward those larger goals gradually. By adapting or adjusting my aspirations, I stay motivated and am constantly driven to find ways to reach those objectives.

In essence, the key to adaptability in achieving goals is to keep your major milestones visible while continuously making progress through smaller, attainable steps along the path to your ultimate achievement. Know your target, and know your limitation!

3. Ways of Learning

Since the beginning of my studies in Bangkit Academy 2024 Batch 2, I set my learning pattern based on the principle, "The faster I learn, the more time I have to learn other things. The more I learn, the better." Following this principle, I managed to complete several courses well before the given deadlines. However, this approach only left me stressed and exhausted early on. After those feeling tired, stressed, and having completed courses, I thought I had plenty of time to rest afterward. That’s where I got stuck in extended rest periods and stopped studying for quite some time. The result was that I lost my learning momentum, and the understanding I gained was not optimal.

Faced with this issue, I began adjusting my learning pace based on time, mood, and energy, in line with the total time allotted for each course. Before I got too tired or in a bad mood (burnout), I would take a break to reset my mood and energy to resume studying as soon as possible. By regulating my study pace, I could avoid burnout and quickly recharge because the impact wasn't as severe as when I pushed myself to finish lessons as quickly as possible. Moreover, sufficient energy and a positive mood greatly enhance the efficiency and quality of my learning. The knowledge I gain becomes more meaningful and comprehensive.

If you’re facing similar issues, try to pause for a moment and set a steadier learning pace because a small, steady flame is better than an unpredictable explosion!

4. Ways of Working

At the beginning of my work in Bangkit Academy 2024 Batch 2, I thought that my assignments had to be done perfectly. So, it was all or nothing. As a result, I often ended up procrastinating, even avoiding my tasks altogether, thinking that the time, circumstances, or my mood weren't ideal to produce a perfect result. Ultimately, I almost missed the assignment deadlines and nearly didn’t get any grades. Yikes!

To avoid this, I had to adapt my ways of working by starting each task as soon as it was assigned, putting in my best effort with the quality I could deliver at that moment. Then, if there was still time before the deadline, I’d use it to make improvements and polish the work. By adapting to this approach, I managed to overcome procrastination and anticipated potential setbacks that could slow my progress. This way, the results were better because I had extra time to refine my work, and most importantly, I ensured my assignments were completed and scored.

I also encountered situations where I still had an incomplete first assignment, and more tasks with close deadlines were coming in. If I had maintained my initial mindset, I’d have ended up piling up tasks and feeling incredibly stressed as deadlines approached. Believe me, if you want to avoid that kind of pressure, it's best to start working on tasks right from the start, because the first priority is completion and the perfection will follow!

5. Ways of Thinking

Thinking is the most vital aspect of everything. How we think and perceive situations influences how we respond to conditions around us. Based on the Growth Mindset material I studied in ILT-SS-01 of Bangkit Academy 2024 Batch 2, there are two main types of mindset: Fixed Mindset and Growth Mindset. To illustrate the difference, I’ll share my journey of adapting my way of thinking throughout the Bangkit Academy 2024 Batch 2 program.

Before joining this program, I doubted myself, believing that programming and machine learning were incredibly difficult, and I might fail in this program. Even basic Python concepts were enough to break my learning spirit. This is what’s known as a Fixed Mindset—a way of thinking that restricts one’s potential and abilities. With a Fixed Mindset, I wouldn’t get anywhere.

To adapt, I shifted my thinking, realizing that programming would become easier if I understood fundamental concepts and the logical processes behind computer programs. Only then could I move forward to learn more advanced material, including machine learning. For a deeper understanding of machine learning, I had to first understand the fundamental logic behind it. This perspective is known as a Growth Mindset. When I approach challenges with a positive outlook and identify the root causes and solutions, I’m motivated to keep learning and growing. Transitioning from a Fixed Mindset to a Growth Mindset has proven essential—not only for succeeding in Bangkit but for all aspects of my life. Maybe you should try it too!