Reflective Education in Building Student Awareness as an Anti-Bullying Strategy at MTs Nurul Falah, Durajaya Village

Abstract

Bullying remains a serious problem in schools and is often considered normal by students. This condition was found at MTs Nurul Falah, Durajaya Village, where the behavior of teasing and calling by nicknames is considered just a joke. This community service program aims to build student awareness and empathy through a reflective education strategy that emphasizes direct experience and personal meaning. The activities were carried out in a participatory manner in three main stages, namely: (1) awareness raising through socialization and group discussions, (2) empathy development through role-play and reflective journal writing, and (3) real action in the form of an anti-bullying campaign designed and presented by the students themselves. The results of the activities showed significant changes in student mindsets: before the program, most students were pre-reflective by normalizing bullying; after the activity, they demonstrated critical awareness, increased empathy, and initiative to reject and prevent bullying. The reflective education approach has proven effective in integrating cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects, making it worthy of being used as an alternative strategy in building a safe, humanistic, and inclusive school culture.