SDCA Journal of Education

Abstract

This paper explores the significant coping strategies that can be learned from examining how SDCA students are coping with the conditions of transformation as an effect of Covid-19 pandemic. Through the interview conducted with the selected SDCA students coming from Education, Pharmacy, AB Communication, Nursing, and Tourism Management, their stories clearly reflect real life struggles, rooted from the serious effects caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. For most students who are studying in a private school like the SDCA students, it can be assumed that pandemic did not affect them much in terms of financial. The SDCA students although most of them belong to well-off families, also experienced struggle and serious effect, most of them need to work while studying (40%), others sell online (20%), while others were able to create advocacy for them to spend their time meaningfully (20%). Although one student (20%) lost her sister due to Covid-19, but this did not discourage him to stop his studies, but he was able to accept the situation and become fully aware on how to adjust and move on in life by making himself occupied to video streaming. The strong message in this research, however, is that threats, stress, problems or failures exist in all humans, regardless of age or status in life. And through literature, educators can better cultivate the grassroots values of Resilience to prepare students to cope with real life stressing experiences and be able to achieve positive outcomes.

Keywords: Built-in resilience, grassroot coping strategies, students, pandemic narratives.