Climbing mountains and crossing seas: Self-actualization of High School Science teachers in hard-to-reach schools

Abstract

Journey to Self-Actualization. This study examined the experiences of four high school science teachers assigned in hard-to-reach places which led or are leading them to their self-actualization. It focused on their hardships, difficulties, and challenges, their reasons for staying in the teaching profession and their sources of fulfillment, encouragement and satisfaction. This study employed the qualitative research design, narrative case study, a hybrid of narrative inquiry and case study, where the stories of the teachers explained their experiences which led or are leading them to their self-actualization. It also provided documentation and multi layered analysis of their lives in the context of the schools where they are teaching. Using narrative case study as the research method, the researcher was able to analyze and explain the experience of deep meaning and insights of the teachers. Through observation and interviews, their hardships, difficulties and challenges were identified and described and their sources of satisfaction, encouragement, and fulfillment were examined and understood. Data analysis technique included narrative analysis, thematic analysis and triangulation method. Analysis of the results revealed that although considered as difficulties, hardship and challenges, distance, accessibility to and mode of transportation, travel expenses, exhaustion from length of travel and difficulty in the transport due to the terrain or geography of the area, sleep deprivation, lack of time with the family, lacking teaching materials, and the attendance and or number of their students, are never hindrances to the teachers' passion for teaching and outstanding delivery of lessons. These honed them to become creative problem solvers, at the same time, contributed to their reasons for staying in the teaching position for the study revealed that the high school science teachers' passion for teaching and their concern for their students and the community in general, and financial stability keep them in the teaching profession. The high school science teachers' students and families are the high school science teachers' sources of satisfaction, encouragement, and fulfilment which led or are leading them to their self-actualization. The teachers' lives exemplify that creativity and self-actualization may be one and the same.