Eustress or Distress : The Lived Experiences of Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM) Students of the Palo Alto Integrated School in Taking the Accounting Subject for the First Time

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The burden of the Filipino students was even stretched to a greater extent when the K to 12 Program was implemented in 2011 that aims to enhance learners' basic skills, produce more competent citizens, and prepare graduates for lifelong learning and employment by adding two more years of Senior High School (SHS). In these two years, students will be immersed to advanced areas of studies and actual work. And, for those in the Accountancy Business, and Management (ABM) strand, it is quite interesting as to how students would cope with the demands of one subject that is included in the strand -the accounting subject.

METHODS

In this hermetic phenomenological study, the researcher explore the lived experiences of fifteen senior high school students (Accountancy, Business and Management strand) of Palo Alto Integrated School by answering the central and sub-questions through interview with the participants. This study designed as descriptive qualitative research.

RESULTS

The participants generally had a positive perception and expectation towards the accounting subject at first, despite of the difficulty. They view it as a number-crunching subject, full of computations, and more on finance. The researchers found out that they find the subject as beneficial and somewhat thrilling, though bland. Somehow the participants pointed out that the professors plays a vital role on how the arduous subject becomes enjoyable.

DISCUSSIONS

The participants have a positive mindset towards coping up with the demands of the accounting subject. They have an excellent coping mechanism, view heavy school works positively, perceive the subject as helpful to their tertiary level preparedness, and seeks for the help of their friends.