Balancing Work and Study: Academic Resilience Among Working Students in a State College

This study employed a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of working students at a state college as they navigated their academic and job responsibilities. Twelve students from the Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology (SPAMAST) participated in the study. The thematic analysis of their narratives revealed two primary challenges: time management struggles and financial pressure. Despite these obstacles, the students demonstrated impressive resilience, meticulously organizing their schedules, studying whenever they could, and frequently multitasking to stay on track. However, the demands of juggling work and school often resulted in elevated levels of stress, anxiety, and physical fatigue. In numerous instances, the time dedicated to their jobs adversely impacted their academic performance and limited their engagement with their studies. Their coping strategies, such as observing strict time management and scheduling and adopting opportunistic studying and multitasking, showcased a strong determination to succeed, even when faced with systemic barriers. To alleviate these challenges, the study recommends implementing more flexible learning options, such as hybrid classes and recorded lectures, alongside expanded financial aid programs. Ultimately, the findings highlight the necessity for institutional reforms that extend beyond relying solely on students’ personal resilience, by establishing systems that truly support their endeavors, state colleges can facilitate a more manageable and less overwhelming work-study balance.