Chapter I

THE PROBLEM AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Background of the Study

College students balancing academic responsibilities and part time employment has

become a challenge for many college students, in Tarlac City it is often to be seen, wherein many

college students are pressured because of cost of education and increasing of need has lead

college students to seek for part-time job while pursuing their studies. According to Robotham,

D. (2012), engaging in part-time work while studying may lead to possible consequences. Many

students work while attending college (Bennet, McCarty & Carter, 2015; Darolia, 2014). This

work can affect their academic success and overall experiences in college. Factors driving

students to seek employment during their studies include increasing tuition costs, a reject in

scholarships, and limited family financial means.

One of the main reasons students work while enrolled in school is to help finance their

college expenses. However, financial aid often does not fully cover all associated costs

(Mathuews, 2018). Typically, institutional tuition discounts account for only about 12 to 20

percent of the total tuition and fees. With the rise in tuition costs, some students find it difficult

to pay using their savings from past jobs (Carnavale et al., 2015).
 Despite the high costs of education, many students continue to pursue their degrees to

enhance their quality of life through learning (Pusser, 2010). Despite facing financial difficulties,

Filipino students manage to support themselves through employment. Based on a study carried

out by Endsleigh (2015), maintaining a balance between social activities, family commitments,

academic responsibilities, and a job can be quite challenging for a student who works. Allowing

students to have at least one night free each week and providing them with techniques to manage

the stress associated with working while studying will significantly lower their stress levels

(Mitchell, 2016). By exploring the lived experiences of our college students in Tarlac City, we

can give others insight on how our college students situation, manage to balance their studies and

part time work. The strategies they use for their daily life to maintain stability, and how did they

manage properly their time, by sharing their experiences, they can inspire others that if they are

able to do it others can too.

This portion is the compilation of important studies and literature that will help the paper

to be strengthened.

Foreign

Balancing Part-Time and Academic Responsibility

According to (Frigillano et al. 2015) they uttered that working student had good time

management in balancing their academic responsibilities along with their part-time jobs.

Moreover, balancing part time and academic responsibilities can result in enhanced academic

performance (Scott-Clayton and Minaya 2015). However, (Stijn Baert 2018) stated that

depending on how students handle their obligations, working while studying may actually be

advantageous rather than detrimental. It emphasizes that whether the results are favorable or

unfavorable depends greatly on whether students prioritize their studies or careers. Student

employment, according to the related study of (Shannon Webster, 2022), it is the practice of

working a full-time or part-time job while enrolling full-time in school. It is a good substitute

that helps them achieve their main objective of finding steady employment that allows them to

pursue their interests once they have finished their studies.

According to MacCann & Roberts (2010), they suggest that students with high levels of

conscientiousness often employ more time management strategies, especially those focused on

deadline adherence, organization, and planning. Nevertheless, we contend that time management

is separate from conscientiousness for both conceptual and empirical reasons. From a conceptual

standpoint, time management comprises a collection of habits or skills that can be developed

through enhanced knowledge, training, or intentional practice.

In addition, based on the study of Raquinto et al. (2012), they stated that these difficulties

were significantly lessened by support structures including flexible work schedules and

specialized learning materials. Above all, in order for college students to successfully manage

their work and their academics, they must avoid wasting time. In addition to learning effective

time management techniques, students need also cultivate excellent organizational and time

management abilities (Marie Anderson 2013). Kleinschmidt (2013) asserts that the stress of

having little time for studying can lead to anxiety, especially for students who are exhausted

from work and don’t get enough sleep after a long night shift, particularly when a term paper due

to following day. As a result, this circumstance may make college students feel over burned. In

another words, students feel pressure to fulfill deadlines while juggling their academics and work

obligations. Furthermore, the less sleep a working student gets, the more probable is it that their

stress level will rise as they try to balance the many things they have to do in a very busy

schedule.
 Given these challenges, one of the key factors is effectively balancing time between work

and studies. Moreover, the importance of prioritizing education should never be undefined for

any reason as a student. Ineffective time management is a leading contributor to the stress-related

challenges faced by students according to (Dipboye, 2014). For instance, a typical student

without part-time job often feels that they don’t have enough time to complete their assignments.

Therefore, these challenges require input from various perspectives, including that of the

students. Proper time management is crucial to prevent negative consequences in this area.

In conclusion, this review highlights that we must develop strategies to balance our time

and prioritize our responsibilities in both academics and part-time jobs.

Challenges of College Students

Kavarana (2013), he stated that there was a rise of college students who are working part

time due to their financial problems leading them to get more tuition costs. In addition, these

Working Student (2016) identifies internet jobs, paid corporate internships, fast-food positions,

and roles within the school. Filipino students encounter challenges as they need to meet

performance expectations at their jobs to retain their positions while simultaneously maintaining

their academic performance to prevent failing grades. Furthermore, in (Zhang et al. 2019),

explore the needs of college students to get academic assistance that considers the unique

challenges of a student.
 In addition, based on (Thi Nga, 2020) for some students, having a job is not just a choice

but an obligation or necessity. Therefore, (Shahida Ab et al., 2021) stated that it is crucial for

people to understand their boundaries and, when required, seek assistance or make the required

adjustments. Educational institutions can help people achieve this balance by providing

resources, flexible scheduling, and a positive work atmosphere that encourages success in both

academic and professional endeavors.

Local

Balancing Part-Time and Academic Responsibilities

To begin this study, wherein, balancing part time and academic responsibilities is

difficult, however it is important to foster strong study habits to manage their time and academic

responsibilities (Cadosales, 2013). Therefore, According to Sprung et al., (2020) they revealed

that maintaining a proper work-life balance is important for their mental health. This is

particularly important for working college students who balance their academic responsibilities

with part-time jobs.

In the related study of (Ramos et al., 2021), it is important to create a diverse and

maintain a proper mental health in order to balance your time. By addressing these problems

with targeted interventions and helpful programs, working students in Philippine higher

education might improve their general well-being and academic achievement. Moreover,

(Butarbutar et al., 2022) stated that giving responsibilities to college students can give time on

them so that they can reduce stress. Additionally, those students who practice self-discipline can
control their thoughts and behavior, leading to a desired outcomes on work or school (Williams,

2022).

Prioritizing Responsibilities of College Students

Balancing school, work, family, and social life can be tough, especially for students who

also have jobs. A study by Endsleigh (2015) found that handling all these responsibilities often

causes stress. A related study by (Mitchell, 2016) that giving students at least one free night a

week and teaching them how to manage stress can be very helpful.

Despite the difficulties, working while studying also has benefits. It helps students

develop important skills like time management, problem-solving, and resilience, which are

useful in their future careers. Abenoja et al. (2019) note that working students learn the value of

hard work and money, as well as discipline and commitment—qualities that help them succeed

both in school and at work. Similarly, Abenoja et al. (2019) found that many Filipino students

work while studying to improve their lives, gain experience, and prepare for future careers.

Financial needs are a major reason they work, motivating them to do well both in school and at

their jobs. Although balancing work and studies is challenging, many students manage to support

themselves through part-time jobs.

Challenges of College Students

According to Freeman (2016), he highlighted that being a working student is not easy

because they don't really gain that much sympathy making their work ordinary. On the other
hand, college students are seriously facing a challenge which is they are spending less time with

their family and friends, working students can also experience pressure on academics due to lack

of sleep and deadlines on school activities (Maqualing, 2018).

Moreover, college students are facing challenges that can affect their well-being,

regarding with their friends, families and such (Abstract Proceedings International Scholars

Conference, 2019). In a related study, Ceneciero (2023) stated that working students need

priority in terms of guidelines on education because they are already at a disadvantage regarding

with their time.

In summary, this literature review highlights the challenges faced by college students.

Understanding these challenges can foster a diverse community and create strategies for college

students who are having a hard time in their academics.

Statement of the Purpose

The purpose of this qualitative study is to explore the lived experiences of college

students in balancing their time and academic responsibilities at Tarlac City. This study seeks to

answer the following questions:

1. What are the lived experiences of college students in Tarlac City who balance part-

time jobs and academic responsibilities?

2. What are the challenges of college students who balance part-time jobs and academic

responsibilities?
 3. What coping strategies do college students in Tarlac City employ in balancing their

part-time jobs and academic responsibilities?

4. How do college students prioritize their responsibilities while managing part-time jobs

and academic responsibilities?

5. What is the implication of this study to Golden Olympus Colleges?

Conceptual Framework

The conceptual framework guided the flow of this study, focusing on two main

perspectives. Firstly, it explores the Lived Experiences of College Students Balancing Part-Time

Jobs and Academic Responsibilities in Tarlac City, learning about their challenges in managing

work and studies. Secondly, it illustrates the techniques used by researchers to conduct this

study:

Kinds of
Lived Interview:
Experiences of Semi-
College Structured Exploration of
Students Interview the lived Implications of
Balancing Part- experiences of the Study
Time Jobs and Types of college students
Academic Analysis Used:
Responsibilities Thematic
Analysis

Figure 1: Paradigm of
This framework aims to understand the goal comprehensively using the Input, Process,
the study
and Output (IPO) model. The first step, known as input, wherein the study title, “Exploring the

Lived Experiences of College Students Balancing Part-Time Jobs and Academic Responsibilities
in Tarlac City,” acts as the beginning point. The Process illustrates the researcher’s goal,

understanding what the researcher's goals in this study. Lastly, output demonstrates the

anticipated outcome of this study.

Scope and Delimitations

This study explored the lived experiences of college students in Tarlac City who balance

part-time jobs with their academic responsibilities. It focused on the lived experiences of a

college students such as challenges they face, how they prioritize and manage their

responsibilities, and the strategies they use to cope while working. The study also looked into

how they manage being student and part-time job workers.

The researchers include college students who are currently working part-time and does

not cover those with full-time jobs. It highlighted their reasons for working, how they manage

their time, and the difficulties they encounter. To ensure a broad understanding, students of all

genders including female, male, and LGBTQ+ individuals are included. Participants are chosen

for their sense of responsibility, independence, and ability to manage both school and work. The

study focused on college students engaged in part-time employment, excluding those working

full-time. To maintain a manageable and focused sample size, the researchers selected 15

respondents from each three different colleges.

This report is important since it provided insights into how college students balance their

part-time jobs and their academic responsibilities in Tarlac City, providing information that can

offer educational strategies that can definitely benefit the following:

Higher Education Institution. The study can help them to implement policies regarding

with the time management, improve student support services and help these college students to

get a diverse environment in their university.

Employers. This research can help them understand the needs of their employees in

terms of studies so that they can adjust their time or working hours.

College Students. This investigation can help students into how they can balance their

part time jobs and academic responsibilities.

Future Researchers. This study can give knowledge to future researchers for their future

study so that they can have information about the college students who are working part time

jobs and how can they balance it with their academic responsibilities.

Definition of terms

In this division, researchers provide a deeper meaning of the key terms all over the study.

Academic Performance. According to Bonifacio (2024), a part-time job is a type of

work where an employee works fewer hours a week than a full-time employee. Part-time

employees are called part-timers and usually work between 20-30 hours per week. In this study,

it is the overall progress of college students like their academic standings.

academic responsibility in higher education involves doing academic duties with integrity,

commitment, and following to institutional policies. In this study, it is the duties and obligations

students have in their academic life, such as attending lectures, completing assignments,

participating in exams, and engaging in group work or other educational activities.

Coping Mechanism. According to GoodTherapy (n.d.) coping mechanisms help

individuals handle stressful circumstances by adapting through problem-solving, emotional

regulation, and seeking support. In this study, it refers to strategies that college students use to

manage their stress and their academic responsibilities.

Financial Motivations. According to Nasrudin (2024), financial motivation involves

money or money-related things to encourage individuals to perform better. In this study, this

term is identified as an inspiration of college students to wrap their tuition fees and family

support.

Inclusive Approach. According to Davis (2019), well-being includes having good

mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose, and the ability to manage

stress. In this study, it refers to ensuring that the study includes respondents from diverse gender

identities, including female, male, and transgender individuals.

Input – Process – Outcome (IPO) Model. In this study, it refers to a model that helps

explain the structure of the study. This model that was used by Landy & Corte (2013), wherein,

"Input" refers to the initial stage, which includes the research topic and objectives. "Process"

involves the methods used for data collection and analysis, while "Outcome" refers to the

expected results or findings of the research

means that each individual’s needs are considered, and all learners are encouraged to participate

and succeed together. It recognizes that all children can learn, and that each child has unique

characteristics, interests, abilities, and learning needs. This term refers to the personal, subjective

experiences of students balancing academic responsibilities and part-time jobs. In this study, it

includes their challenges, coping strategies, and personal reflections on managing both roles.

Part-Time Jobs. It refers to a job that is used to cover tuition fees and their family needs

by Robotham (2012). In this study, it refers to a job that they are doing for the support on their

academics.