Bullying experiences, coping mechanisms, lessons learned and aspirations of high school working students

Abstract

This qualitative study which utilized the narrative-based inquiry, explored the life testimonies of five (5) working students who experienced bullying at Botong Cabanbanan National High School, Botong, Oton Iloilo, S.Y. 2020-2021. The participants of this study were purposively chosen by the researcher. The data were gathered through an in-depth interview using an interview guide validated by expert researchers and were analyzed through Thematic Data Analysis. The validity of the data presented and gathered in this study were triangulated through the researcher's interview with the school's Guidance Coordinator, other researchers and through the participants' testimonies. Noteworthy to mention, that the participants' socio-economic demography in the study was delved into, in order to evidently support that their economic status was the main reason of the participants in being working students. The results of this study showed that the family's socio-economic status, poverty, and financial constraints were the major factors which pushed them to be working students. Their bullying experiences in school greatly affected their lives as students. Thus, these experiences motivated them to improve themselves in their studies and their perspectives in life. All the participants ignored their bullies as their coping mechanism and focused on their goals to continue their studies and strive for better future; and they asserted that all of their experiences may be in the form of verbal, physical and even cyber bullying affected their lives however, these made them realize and learn valuable lessons in life that taught them to focus on their aspirations and dreams as working students. All the participants aspire to finish their studies and earn a degree. It was evident and revealed based on their testimonies that their aspirations in life are to provide a decent life to their family through a secure and stable job. The major implication of this study is to improve future curricula in school specifically on developing students' holistic well-being. Specifically, this study focused its lens on helping students who are being bullied and to provide psycho-social support to help them become successful students through the school's enhanced school-based monitoring and counselling.