ABSTRACT

This qualitative research aims to study and explore the challenges the support that they are receiving and
the career possibility and what they aspire to be or want to pursue in the future. this study aims to have
a better understanding of the experiences of HUMSS students and the factors that impacts their well-
being. Through in depths of interviews the study explores the experience challenges of the HUMSS
students. the finding reveals that HUMSS students often are second guessing their choice of course for
the lack of career guidance and financial concerns. These challenges can significantly impact their mental
health, emotional well-being, and academic performances. However, the study also uncovers various
coping strategies, insights to what they face in their current life, and the options of every individual course
that they want to pursue. The insights gained from this study can inform the development of more
effective services, mentorship programs, and institutional policies to foster a more inclusive and nurturing
environment for HUMSS [Link] understanding the challenges that they face and their decision
making that they employ, educators and policy makers can better support the HUMSS students in their
personal growth, ultimately contributing to their well being and success

Keyword: HUMSS students, challenges, qualitative research, decision making, mental health, career
possibilities, academic performance, educators, policy makers

CHAPTER1

Background Of Study

Study Background Career Pathways The study explores the career pathways that students envision for
their careers, including traditional academic paths, professional roles in various sectors, and
entrepreneurial ventures. Challenges and Opportunities The research analyzes the challenges and
opportunities faced by humanities and social sciences graduates in the modern job market, highlighting
the value of their skills and the necessity of effective career planning. Understanding Career Aspirations:
The study explores the diverse career aspirations of humanities and social sciences students, identifying
common themes and variations across different disciplines. Influencing factors The research looks at the
factors that influence students' career choices, including personal interests, family background,
educational experiences, and societal expectations.

Aspirations are on a higher side compared to their expectations, although expectations tend to decline
with age (Boyd [Link]., 1984). Ginzberg (1984) analyzed that career choice is a lifelong decision making
process for those who pursue greater gratifications from their job. The younger

3 generation is more specific and conscious of the need for choosing their vocation Ginzberg (1952),
the group career theorist believed that choosing a career is one of the most important decision of life.
Boyd [Link]., (1984) suggested that changes in occupational aspirations and occupational choice are
bound to be reflected by the changes occurring in the society at large. During 5th Century BC, Democirtus
emphasized the importance of family in education. In the 20th century the role of environment was a
topic of discussion amongst the researches and many researches on various educational aspects like
motivation, personality, emotion and learning was made. In relation to the determinants of motivation,
various occupational aspirations were studied (Kumar, [Link]., 1986; Dabir,1986).

An attempt to study the occupational aspiration and facilities provided by School was made by Utpal
Kalita (2014) of secondary school students. 250 students from Lakhimpur, Assam were taken as sample
and occupational aspirational scale developed by J.S. Grewal (1973) and self-standardized questionnaire
was used for the study. The study suggested that educational and occupational scope can be improved if
efforts are made to improve school facilities. It concluded that there is a significant relationship
between school facilities and occupational aspiration. In a study conducted by Debasmita Paul (2013),
concluded that there is a difference in the aspiration between male and female students. Female
students were more particular about their career choices whereas male students had more diversified
choices. It also concluded that students with concrete knowledge about the courses were less
frustrated and more adjustable and energetic. In another study by Schoon,I., & Polek, E.(2011) used
structural Equation Modelling to link early experiences to adult outcomes and association between family,
gender, career aspirations, cognitive ability. The study concluded that those who are interested in Job
after education is more serious in further education. It also suggested that females are more ambitious
than males in their occupational aspirations and they were participative towards further education.
A study (Weidman,1974; 1979; 1984 and 1989) reveals that to achieve an aspired occupation one should
not only be competent and potentially sound but also it depends which socio-economic factor an
individual belongs to like caste is one important factor. Interaction of family, school, and community,
youth learn to explore careers which as to career choices (Natalie, 2006).

Occupational choices depend on social status of the families Sewell(1969-1970).A study conducted
by Sundarrajan(1993), found that educational status of the Parents was highly correlated with the
aspiration of the youth.i.e better qualified the parents were, better the aspiration of their children and
girls were found to have better aspiration than boys. Kamla(2009) studied about the relationship between
career choice and [Link] students make a wrong choice in career which do not match their
personality. Chemeli(2013) also studied the relation of aspiration and personality, the study of 429
students (223 girls and 206 boys) found that there is a significant relation between aspiration and
personality.(Rogers,1962 ) studied that social status is ones’s position in the society ,respect and prestige
. Most important influence of all is the social status of family. The level of quality of education one avails
and career aspiration hugely depends upon the socio economic status of the family. The peer group is
also an aspect for career aspiration. As amongst youth, friends are someone they admires the most.
Therefore the career aspirations may be modified according to

the beliefs and values of the Peer Group. If the peer group influences in a positive way, the
educational and vocational aspirations will have a positive impact. On the other hand if the peer group is
destructive and is involved in some anti-social activity, it could have a negative influence in the
aspiration of youth. (Dolly Thomas, 2006). McKenzie, S., Coldwell-Neilson, J. & Palmer, S. (2017) ,the
results of their study indicated that students have varied career aspirations which while realistic, but
the criteria to acieve their career goals were not clear.
Statement of the problem

This study aims to explore the career aspirations of Humanities and social sciences students and
understand the factors that influence their career decisions. It seeks to answer these following questions:

1)what challenges do humanities and social science student encounter in perusing their desired career
paths?

2)how do they cope up with these kinds of challenges they face in perusing their career paths?

3) support do humanities and social science student need?

SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS

the scope of our study is to investigate the career aspirations and goals of a HUMSS students.

The study is only delimited only for the HUMSS of Grade 11 and Grade 12 students in the BACNOTAN
NATIONAL HIGHSCHOOL, the main purpose of our study is to examine the factors influencing their career
choices and to explore the obstacles faces by HUMSS students in achieving their career goals. The study
only focuses on the career aspirations that connected with HUMSS strand. However, the study excludes
the other strand in Bacnotan National High school.

Importance of the study

This research provides valuable insights into the experience and challenges of humanities and social
science students. Specifically, this study may benefit from the following individuals:

IOTS The importance of this study is to allows the student of HUMSS in BNHS to make informed decisions
regarding their academic focus and goals, or their careers.

PARENTS This research can equip parents with cleared understanding that the parents are not the one
who will choosing the career of their children, but they can suggest.

EAI The findings of this study can be used to help the students of what will be the effect if you choose the
career that you want.

PM This is to highlight why they need to choose the right career.

COMMUNITY This study contributes to a wider understanding of the community that not all careers are
easy.
DEFNITION OF TERMS

Challenges. Refers to the obstacles and difficulties that student encounter while perusing their studies to
reach and achieve their career aspirations.

Coping mechanism, refers to the strategies and techniques that students employ to manage and deal
with the challenges they face in their choosing their career aspiration.

Navigating. Refers to the process of maneuvering through the various pathways and opportunities within
the field of humanities and social [Link] involves making informed decisions, overcoming obstacles
and finding one way towards academic and professional success in humanities and social science (HUMSS)

HUMSS. an academic strand in Senior High School (SHS) that focuses on the humanities and social sciences

Student narratives. Refers to the personal stories, experiences and perspective shared by individual’s
students in the fields of humanities and social science. These narratives provide insights into the
challenges successes, aspirations and unique journey of students navigating their paths in humanities and
social science (HUMSS)

Chapter 2

Research design

The Research Design of this study is Phenomenology Research. According to Mckoy 2023 A
phenomenological study design includes systematic steps in the data analysis procedures, including
identifying a phenomenon to study, interviewing participants, highlighting common themes, and
publishing work. The design research should work to bracket themself off from the study to not insert any
bias into the interpretation of results or interactions with participants.

Participants and locale of the study

the participant of the study involved (10 )senior high school students under humanities and social science
strand from bacnotan national high school in the district of bacnotan division of la union the group was
composed of an equal mix of 5 male and five females students the study was conducted during the
academic year of 2025 the participant were intentionally chosen to ensure the data gather would be
directly relevant to the research question post the researchers continue to collect data until they reach a
point of saturation were no new or relevant information emerge from the interviews was utilized as a
participant for specifically humanities and social science student from bacnotan national high school this
method allowed researchers to deliberately choose which data points to include the sample and conduct
an in-depth analysis the chosen student provided valuable insight where crucial to the research
contributing their personal experience and perspective in HUMSS field.

Instrumentation and data collection

the researchers collected data for the study by conducting face to face structure interview as a part of the
study the participant were asked question about their personal experiences and narratives as HUMSS
student before conducting the interviews the researchers explain the purpose of obtaining informed
consent to the participants the formal interview process comments wants to participants had provided
their informed consent by signing the necessary form as a part of the study participant were as a variety
of question specifically focus on experiences in the fields of humanity and social science discussion during
the interviewer recorded transcribe and carefully analyze by the researchers the length of the interviews
was determined based on the availability and willingness of the participant this feature was take place
in________

validation

the interview sheet prepared by the researchers were validated first to the research teachers after
incorporated the suggestion they ask the school principal to approve the study and validate the research
question after validating the tool the research conducted the research structure to the series of interviews
with the chosen participants

data analysis

after the data had been collected through the face to face interview it was carefully documented and their
organized for analysis during the data analysis phase the researchers employed various techniques to
identify some themes thematic statement and over reacting games within the collected data they closely
examine the interview transcript observation notes and the relevant materials to uncover patterns and
trends by identify significant patterns in the data they were able to draw meaningful conclusion and
insights about experiences and narrative of young student this analysis is allowed them to build the logical
chain of evidence supporting the research objectives and contributing to the comprehensive
understanding of the topic

ethical consideration

the research ensured that the standard of moral research is a pulled throughout the conduct of the study
by strictly adhering to the following guidelines firstly they did not disclose the names of the participant
particularly in the senior high school student of bacnotan national high school secondly the research did
that cause any intentional or physical harm to the participant in order to gather the required information
thirdy the respect copyright laws and referring from making any unauthorized references to copyright
materials to obtain permission to conduct a study require interview research submitted the formal letter
to the correspondence to the main school of bacnotan national high school the letter explicitly stated that
their intention to conduct the study and self permission for the interviews further more the validation
process of the research instrument used in the study was conducted in a fair and unbiased manner
ensuring that no form of oppression was imposed of the participant research is also considered
incorporating and recommendation and strengthen the overall quality of their study by adhering to this
ethical guidelines the researchers aim to maintain the integrity and credibility of the research