For students today, losing focus has become a common challenge in daily life and learning activities. However, this challenge should not become a barrier to learning and personal growth.
For a group of Thursina International Islamic Boarding School (IIBS) students, this issue became the starting point for an innovative research project called FocusBloom. The project, which introduces a self-regulated learning kit, led the team to win First Place in the Best Idea Innovation category at the Korea Youth Summit (KYS) 2026.
Organized by the Youth Break the Boundaries (YBB) Foundation, the international event provided the Thursina team with an opportunity to present and test their ideas before participants and judges from around the world. FocusBloom was designed to help students understand the causes of distractions and develop the ability to manage their own learning process.
The research project was developed by Syira Rafilah Putri Suratman, Azalea Raihanah Adiva, Gelsy Zyhnee Rayfani, Qotrunnada Nafiza Husna, and Andi Raudatul Jannah Salsabila. Their idea came from the understanding that learning distractions do not always come from digital screens. Friends, tiredness, boredom, an uncomfortable learning environment, and difficult assignments can also affect concentration and make it harder for students to stay focused.
To address these challenges, FocusBloom was designed to help students identify distractions, set learning goals, record their focus sessions, choose suitable learning strategies, and reflect on their progress. This approach encourages students to become active learners who understand and manage their own learning needs rather than simply depending on solutions provided by others.
The team's mentor, Ustazah Dayu Ardhiyatmita Nur Rahmawati, M.Pd., explained that the preparation process focused on helping students fully understand their research project. Their training included improving the research proposal, validating data, preparing visual presentations, practicing public speaking in English, and simulating questions from the judges.
“The preparation began with guiding the students to truly understand the project they were presenting. What made me most proud was their willingness to accept feedback and their ability to understand their own research data,” said Ustazah Dayu.
Through this process, students learned that understanding simple everyday problems and developing relevant solutions are important steps in building critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
FocusBloom also aims to support Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4): Quality Education, particularly by strengthening learning skills, independence, and reflective learning habits. Through this project, the students demonstrated how their ideas could help address educational challenges in their surroundings.
This experience reflects the Inspiring value within Thursina's RECODING values. Students are not only encouraged to create innovative projects but are also given opportunities to believe in their ideas, test them, improve them, and present them on a wider international stage.
This type of mentoring is part of Thursina IIBS's commitment to World Class and Personalised Enrichment through its Holistic & Balanced Education approach. Participating in global competitions also helps students develop the skills, confidence, and international experience needed to pursue the Top 100 Overseas University Enrollment Pathway, following the footsteps of many Thursina graduates who have continued their studies at leading universities around the world.
For Ustazah Dayu, winning the competition is not the final goal.
“This achievement is not the end, but the beginning of having the courage to create bigger and more meaningful innovations,” she advised.
Ultimately, FocusBloom has become more than just a learning kit. It shows how a simple concern about staying focused while studying can grow into an innovative idea presented on an international stage. With the right opportunities and guidance, students can learn to think critically, explore new possibilities, and create meaningful solutions that make a positive difference. (izz)
