Abstract
Graduating college students are in the stage of life called emerging adulthood. It is a crucial time for identity exploration and making choices about the future, for which some emerging adults struggle while others thrive, depending on their ability to cope. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted adjustments to the mode of delivery of classroom instruction around the world. Most tertiary education institutions opted for distance learning. As a developing country, almost half of the population of the Philippines has no Internet connection. The purpose of this study was to explore, describe, and interpret the lived experiences of emerging adult graduating students from a state college in Negros Occidental coping with distance learning in the new normal.
This study utilized the phenomenological research design. The participants were emerging adult graduating students of a state college in Negros Occidental, SY 2020- 2021. Eight graduating students coming from the College Arts and Sciences, College of Education, College of Industrial Technology, and College of Engineering participated in the study. Using the phenomenological in-depth interview, the participants shared their experiences as a graduating student this school year during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was done utilizing Hycner’s data explication.
There are three main themes based on the six common themes that emerged from the lived experiences of the emerging adult graduating students. The main themes are: bracing the impact of COVID-19 pandemic; coping with the COVID-19 pandemic; and finding meaning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The common themes are: diverse consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic; psychological challenges during the COVID.
19 pandemic; difficulty of online classes; and inadequate on-the-job training (OJT). The essence of the coming of age of emerging adult graduating students is change – maturity of one’s mind, body and emotion, welcoming adaptability amidst difficulties and achieving psychological resilience in adulthood.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has a profound effect on emerging adult graduating college students as they transition into young adulthood. Graduating students felt unprepared to graduate from college due to suspension of activities that equip them as they venture into the world or work. As these graduating students adapt to the new normal, it is imperative that educational institutions provide support services tailored to their needs. A collaborative approach, engaging the different service providers within an educational institution is needed to help empower these graduating college students. As the crisis of development is resolved, these graduating students develop resilience, grit, and adaptability resulting into more successful emerging adults.
This study contributes to the existing literature on distance learning in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in state universities and colleges. This study provides the basis for a social and emotional learning program for students using an online platform.
Keywords
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