Left Out for I am Slow: A Phenomenological Study on Lived Experiences of College Students

T.L.V. Panela¹

Section:Research Paper, Product Type: Journal-Paper
Vol.7 , Issue.9 , pp.100-104, Sep-2021

Online published on Sep 30, 2021

Copyright © T.L.V. Panela . This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
 

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Abstract :
Academic performance in the form of grades have been the defining factor for a student to be classified into groups. With the questions on the quality of teaching and learning, it is best to focus on students who felt left out of the academic circle. Thus, Phenomenological Research, with the of a semi-structured interview, identified and explored the college students’ life experiences who felt being left out because of their deviation from typical high achievers. The research was based on Sternberg`s Theory of Thinking Styles and Perry`s Theory of Cognitive Development. From the data analyses with implementation of the Colaizzi Process, three major themes emerged: (1) Admitting Limitation; (2) Understanding Exclusion; and (3) Self-Worth Valuation. The result showed that these students shared an experience of being excluded due to their academic ability. They mostly end up leaving the academic circle as a major resort in escaping the feeling of being left out. Despite such unfortunate predicament, they aspire to do good in areas where they excel and slowly gain the confidence in believing one`s self. It is recommended that the schools place equal value and attention to all types of students. Further and in-depth studies is also recommended.

Key-Words / Index Term :
Slow Learner, Academic Circle, College Life, Turning Point, Out of Place

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