Home alone in the city: The adjustment experiences of freshman college migrants

• Main Authors: Jamora, Raul, Roldan, Vanessa Elaine, Torres, Charmaine
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1999
• Subjects: Student adjustment; College student mobility > Social aspects; Psychology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_bachelors/10429
• Institution: De La Salle University

The purpose of the study is to describe the academic, social and emotional adjustment of freshman college migrants. The sample consists of forty (40) participants, twenty (20) of whom are the main participants of the study who were obtained from the freshmen population of the University of the Philippines through the use of purposive and chain referral sampling. These twenty (20) participants came from different provinces in the Philippines except those from Regions 111 and IV, are temporarily separated from their families, living by themselves in the city, and are not able to go home to their provinces regularly. The other twenty (20) participants are friends of the main participants who clarified their responses and were obtained through referral sampling. This study utilized a descriptive research design and used the interview method in gathering data through the aid of a semi-structured interview. The data gathered were then analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively where the responses were categorized then described. Findings showed that most of the participants aimed for high quality education for their ambitions in life. They have to accustom themselves with the high academic standards set by the university, the teaching styles of their professors and the competitive environment inside the classroom. Because they are separated from their families, they lost their common sources of consultation and resources thus, they have to build friendly ties with the new people they meet who could help them with life in their new environment especially in dealing with pressures and problems. They have to familiarize themselves to their new environment in order for them to have a sense of belonging. Their homesickness and unfamiliarity made them feel lonely and anxious. They also felt inferior about themselves. Lastly, they had to deal with living alone, be responsible and mature. Thus, they not only have to adjust to the transition from high school to college but also the transition from adolescence to young adulthood.