Two Years as a Bluejack Laboratory Instructor

This is a refined version of an article originally published on Medium.

For those who are unfamiliar with Bluejack, it is the informal name for student laboratory instructors at BINUS University’s Software Laboratory Center. They mainly teach practical computing classes, assist students, and undergo intensive technical training.

In my first year at BINUS University, I joined Bluejack and began my journey as a laboratory instructor. Over the next two years, I taught more than 800 students and developed habits that later shaped my career as a software developer.

Why I Joined Bluejack

Some people might ask, “Why would you want to work while studying? Isn’t it exhausting?”

The answer varies depending on each person’s goals and circumstances. Some of my friends joined because they wanted to earn money, while others wanted to develop their technical skills, try something new, or become more involved in campus life outside sports clubs.

My reasons were similar. The opportunity to become active on campus while earning a decent salary seemed valuable to me.

Intense Training Sessions

Before officially joining Bluejack, every candidate had to complete a series of intensive training sessions. The program involved continuous coding, numerous exercises, demanding presentations, and several examinations. Every laboratory instructor had to complete this process, and many of us were proud of making it through.

I spent nearly the entire month of January coding, attending training sessions, and preparing for assessments. I barely had any personal time during that period because we were being trained to handle difficult situations that laboratory instructors might occasionally encounter during their two-year contracts.

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.”

The training pushed us beyond what we normally experienced in university classes. Although the pressure could be exhausting, it helped me improve my stress tolerance, learn more quickly, and adapt to unfamiliar situations.

My First Teaching Experience

It is your first year at university and your first day as a Bluejack instructor. You and your partner are assigned to teach around 30 students who are one year ahead of you, with no lecturer in the room.

How did it feel?

You might expect me to say that I was anxious, nervous, or uneasy.

Not exactly.

I was slightly nervous because I was still inexperienced, but I saw the situation as more challenging than frightening. Every lab instructor had been trained to teach and understand the lesson material quickly, so I trusted the preparation I had received.

My first assignment was teaching GIS, or Geographic Information Systems, to around 28 to 30 second-year Information Technology students. Fortunately, the class went well. I was also able to explain map projections in greater detail because I had studied geography in high school. 😆

Lab Instructor Potential Test

After completing the intensive training, we still had to pass five major assessments known as the “Tes Potensi Asisten.” These tests covered several areas of software development, including game, web, and mobile programming. Preparing for them required us to build a broad technical foundation within a relatively short period of time.

Two Years of Teaching

Those two years were filled with unusual and memorable experiences. I sometimes stayed until 11 p.m. preparing material for the next morning’s class, and there were days when I skipped breakfast or lunch because I had to teach another session.

Over time, those experiences changed the way I understood confidence. I realized that confidence often comes from knowing what you are doing and preparing thoroughly. Whenever I entered a class fully prepared, I could explain the material clearly and rarely found myself stuttering.

Bluejack also exposed us to a wide range of technical subjects every semester. It felt like an extensive library of programming resources. We were exposed to game development, mobile applications, desktop software, web development, animation, competitive programming, artificial intelligence, server administration, and many other areas. There was always something new to learn.

Pros and Cons

Every role has advantages and disadvantages, and people may experience them differently depending on their goals and preferences. Some people may enjoy working at Bluejack for several years, while others may decide that the role is not suitable for them. Both choices are understandable.

The main advantages were the wide range of technical skills we could develop and the support we received from senior instructors and coworkers. Bluejack gave us opportunities to explore many areas of software development while improving our communication and teaching abilities.

The role could also be exhausting, and its long-term career path was limited because it was primarily designed as a student position. For me, two years was enough time to build a broad technical foundation before graduating. I eventually wanted to focus more deeply on professional software development, and I did not see a clear path toward that goal within Bluejack.

End of My Contract

Time passed quickly, and by the end of my contract, I had taught more than 800 students. Through those classes, I learned how different students behaved, how to approach them effectively, and how to appreciate the many humorous moments that happened along the way. I still miss those experiences.

Because I spent so much time in the computer laboratory, I was constantly learning new things and experimenting with different programming languages. This helped me develop a strong habit of independent learning, which I continue to practice today.

The ability to learn independently is especially important in software development. New programming languages, frameworks, tools, and major updates continue to appear every year. Formal company training can help developers keep up with these changes, but self-directed learning allows us to study at our own pace and in ways that suit us best.

Bluejack was not the career path I ultimately chose, but it gave me the confidence to teach, communicate, and face unfamiliar technical problems. Looking back, those two years became an important foundation for the software developer I am today.

Here are some memorable moments from my time as a laboratory instructor.

Outside official BINUS events, my friends, senior instructors, and I also spent time together on various occasions.

Thanks to 18-1 in Anggrek Campus and Alam Sutera Campus for the support.