DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED BY THE SELECTED SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OF GENERAL DE JESUS COLLEGE DUE TO ACADEMIC STRESS

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the difficulties encountered by senior high school students at General De Jesus College as a result of academic stress. A phenomenological research approach was employed to explore the lived experiences of senior high school students at General De Jesus College who were experiencing academic stress. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen (15) participating students. The interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed through careful interpretation to gain an in-depth understanding of the participants’ responses. The findings revealed that the majority of participants experienced various difficulties associated with academic stress, including lack of sleep, burnout, challenges in time management, low motivation, difficulty focusing, and anxiety. Despite these challenges, students reported using several coping mechanisms to manage academic stress, such as rest and relaxation techniques, strategies to improve focus and learning, self-motivation techniques, and effective time management and organizational skills. The study highlighted that senior high school students at General De Jesus College face significant challenges due to academic stress. However, the findings also demonstrated students’ resilience, as they actively employed different coping strategies to manage stress. These results emphasized the importance of providing adequate support systems for students experiencing academic stress while also encouraging the development of effective personal coping mechanisms.