Chapter I

The Problem and Its Background

Introduction

“Success is not the key to happiness, Happiness is the key to success. If you

love what you are doing, you will be successful.”

- Albert Schweitzer

College does not always dictate future success (Smartt, 2017). Whether

you attend or not, you can be successful, this indicates that even you do not

have a college degree you can become a successful person and how life

experiences helps a lot to be a successful person. Therefore, a diploma is only a

paper that certifies that one has graduated or has completed the years of

studying they needed. Nevertheless, having a diploma is a form of pride and

honor that one carries as people grow up. Sometimes, being successful is not

only because you have a degree in college. According to Goodin (2012), one

effective element for success is to have a goal and a plan. School dropout needs

to set their goals and plans so that they have an inspirations and motivations to

hold on to. Thus, anyone can be successful if they want to especially if they have

the determination and inspiration to be successful. They can be successful if they

will work hard for it because nothing worth having comes easy.

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 The "Iceberg Theory of Success" will give you a chance to acknowledge

that is so imperative to do 'whatever it takes' if you aim to succeed (Meuller,

2017). The "Iceberg Theory of Success" is a good representation of a person

particularly the successful people. For instance, everyone can see the

outputs/outcomes of what the actions and accomplishments of the person, that is

the visible part of the iceberg above the water line whereas the efforts or behind

the scenes of the action that made the person successful is the larger part

hidden beneath the water. For example, Henry Ford, the automobile billionaire,

was born into humble poverty and never went to school at all, but went on to

build Ford Motor Company and became one of the richest men in history.

The researchers wants to change the perception of other people about

people who dropped out from school because of what we called 'Discrimination'.

School dropouts are being discriminated because of some reasons like not doing

anything productive, not doing anything for the growth of the economy, and being

useless in the government. School dropouts experience a lot of discrimination in

their workplace, business, family and friends.

The purpose of this research is to change the mindset of some people

about those who did not able to finish their studies and to be able to show that

they can do things beyond of what people think of about them.

2
Statement of the Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand the lived experiences of successful

school dropouts in Metro Manila. Specifically, the study seeks to answer the

central problem: How did School dropouts became successful in their food

business?

Related to the main question, the following questions will be used to guide the

researchers in the course of the study:

1. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a school dropout in

the field of food business?

2. What are the different problems that you have faced in the field of food

business?

3. What make you become successful in your chosen field despite of being a

school dropout?

Theoretical Framework

Steve Mueller's Iceberg Theory of Success (2017) is about how others see

a successful individual and looking the business on how it work successfully by

hardwork and endeavors of food business owners. The hypothesis will allow you

to recognize that it is so basic to do "whatever it takes" in the event that you

expect to succeed (Meuller, 2017). The iceberg represents individuals who

3
dropped out from school, just like an iceberg the only thing that you can see is

the top because it is floating and you can never see the bottom. Likewise, an

individual who never finished his/her studies is only seen by people as student

who will not be successful. Without even knowing the abilities and skills the

person possesses.

Guiding Framework

For a research study, the researchers provides a guiding framework in

order to have the steps they need to use in the developing and concluding of the

research study.

Phenomenon
Experiences of Successful School Dropout in
Manila

The Study to Understand Why School dropout

Became Successful in Fields of Business around
Manila

Interview using a validated aide memoire

Data Interpretation

How School dropout became successful

4
 Figure 1. Guiding Framework

The study focuses on how school dropouts became successful, what are

their experiences and how does it help them to become successful in the

business industry. By using the validated aide memoire the researcher will have

a guide to their interview. The data will be from their own experiences. And from

those experiences, the researchers will have their conclusions and interpretation.

Scope and Delimitation

This study focuses on how school dropout became successful in the field

of food business. This study will use 5 school dropouts who became successful

in the field of food business around Metro Manila. The researcher aims to know

how hard it is to be a school dropout and how they manage to face the problem

of being a school dropout. What are their experiences and what motivates them

to pursue their dreams to become a successful businessman. The researchers

will focus on people whose ages are ranging from 48 to 76 years old.

This research excluded people who are under 48 years old because

according to Marino (2018), the failure rate of new businesses range from 60–

90% in the first 5 years. So, if the business is running for more than 3–5 years it

would count as a success. From these, the researchers excluded people who are

5
under 48 years old because the business that they are handling did not last for

more than 3-5 years. It needs to be more than 3-5 years of handling a business

for it to be called successful because it has a firm foundation and also has

experiences. Less than 3 years are not included because the business is only

starting and it needs a good facade to be successful. The researchers chose

food as a type of business because according to King (2016), there are

advantages of having a food business in the Philippines: First, food is one of the

necesseties that one can not deprive itself of. Second, a peson can start with a

food business even with a small capital. Third, a person can have its store at the

comfort of its home. Lastly, Filipinos are food lovers and snacking is one of the

favourite past time of the Filipino people. So with all its advantages, the

reaserchers will have an easier accessibility in finding a participant on the study.

Also, since food business can be at the comfort of a ones’ home it can be found

in almost every corner of the streets. The limitation of the study will be around

Metro Manila because: First, it will be time consuming for the researchers to find

participants outside Metro Manila. Second, it is expensive to travel on different

provinces and find participants and gather data that will aid the study.

Significance of the Study

The researchers conducted a study pertaining to the school dropouts’ real

life situations. This study is relying on why they became successful, their

6
experiences, how they handle discrimination, what motivates them, and the

secret of their success. This study will show the insight and experience of a

school dropout who became successful in the field of business and enable the

public to become aware of their current situation.

For School Dropouts: This study will help the school dropout to become

motivated, to work hard and be successful. This will serve to lessen the

discrimination of people who dropped out from school and end the common

notion that a diploma is needed for someone to succeed. This study will help

them to be aware that not all school dropouts are not successful.

For Future Researchers: This study is designed to help future researchers to

gather information about people who dropped out from school who became

successful later on. Furthermore, future researchers may use this data to explore

things that are not covered by our topic.

For General Public: This study will benefit the general public in becoming aware

that not all school dropouts are worthless or useless, and that they can be

successful too just like any other businessman. This will help them to motivate

other school dropouts.

For Businessmen: This study will give some knowledge to businessmen for

them to know that even though they did not finish their studies they can still prove

7
something. And also to diminish the thoughts that school dropouts are useless

because they do not have diploma.

For Teenagers: This study is not conducted to make the teenagers self-assured

that even if they will not finish their studies they will become successful. But this

study is designed for them to know about the struggles of school dropouts even

though they do not have a college degree. And to motivate teenagers to aim high

because college degree can help them to achieve their dreams.

Definition of Terms

Aide Memoire- A paper that contains a questionnaires that will be used as a

guide on the interview

Diminish- to lessen or remove the mindset of other people.

Notion- sayings or opinions of other people.

Successful Business- a business that has a lot of improvement from the day

that the owner started it.

Successful- a person that has a lot of accomplishment that helped them to

improve their life.

School Dropout- people who did not pursue their studies. Even if it is a grade

school dropout, high school dropout or college dropout.

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 Chapter II

Review of Related Literatures and Studies

This chapter of the research paper provides a related literature and

studies subject area that will help support the study reinforcement the survey of

the researchers and to be able to show the overview of the study.

Related Studies

This part of the research study discusses about important investigations

concerning to its topic, the experiences behind their success.

Foreign Studies

Strategies to be Successful

Are College Drop Outs More Successful Entrepreneurs?

There are a lot of trending things in social media one example is “Let’s

drop out college” (Kochar, 2016). This study makes more knowledgeable about

what are the experiences behind those people who are now successful. Hard

9
work is one of the reasons why they became successful in their life. According to

Forbes 63 out of 400 successful entrepreneurs are dropouts and it is surprising

that out of 400 successful enterepreneurs 63 were school dropouts and this

study also proves that school droputs can also be successful in their lives.

Five suggestions to be a successful undergraduate

There are a lot of things that a school dropout can do to become

successful, one of this is growing from failure. (Cortez, 2013). This study is all

about learning from your failure and also to reflect on what you have done. This

study will give you motivations in life and will stop the mind set of people that if

they fail it stops there. Learning from failures and bad experiences will make a

person or in particular the entrepreneurs strong when it comes to problems that

they are facing because according to Caesar (2013), “Experience is the teacher

of all things” and this only means that every experiences good or bad is a big

factor of an entrepreneurs’ lives.

What Is The Secret Behind Successful Students?

One effective element for success is to have a goals and plans (Goodin,

2012). This section one of the most important thing to be successful is to set

goals, plans and make it real. School dropouts needs to set their goals and plans

10
so that they have an inspiration to look on to. Setting goals and plans will help

school dropouts be clear of what their objectives are and their journey towards

success will be easier and a lot faster.

How I Became A Successful Entrepreneur Without A College Degree

College does not always dictate future success. Whether you attend or

not, you can be successful. (Smartt, 2017). This study proves that even you do

not have a college degree you can become a successful entrepreneur and how

life experiences help a lot to be a successful entrepreneur.

Why Entrepreneurs Don't Need A College Degree

School can teach you a lot. But life will teach you more. (Bariso, 2015). It

is true that you can study to be a good entrepreneur but life lesson is so much far

different. Because your failures and experiences will lead you to be a successful

entrepreneur and will give a life lesson that you can bring in your whole life. As

an addition, you can use your experiences as an inspiration to overcome your

problems. Your experience will push you hard that no matter what problem it is, it

is just a problem and you can overcome it.

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College Doesn’t Create Success

Talented, motivated, creative people tend to earn more than their peers

throughout life. (Thiel, 2014). Going to college nowadays is too much expensive

and takes a lot of time. College degree do not dictate your future because

through experience people will learn something that they can use in real life. The

wills, efforts, and hard works are the keys that will lead the person to be

successful.

Why You Don't Need a College Degree to Succeed

Based on Wu’s research on CareerBuilder there are over 100,000 of jobs

that a person can do without a college degree. “If you have the drive, the focus,

the commitment, and the self-motivation, you can succeed in the working world

without a college degree.” Wu (2013). This only indicates that a college degree is

not necessary to succeed whether a person does not have a college degree.

There are a lot of jobs that does not require a college degree. Therefore, if a

person has a strong determination and focus that person can be successful.

The Education of Millionaires

Nowadays the wrong belief of having a good grades, study hard, get into

college and have a degree will surely makes people successful, but really you

12
need to learn real world skills (Ellsberg, 2012). This study is all about taking out

the mindset of people that if they work hard and finish their studies they will

become successful. Not all people will be successful if they work hard to finish

college, people must learn things such as real life skills or what they called

“street wise”, mind set of being a successful and ability to achieve certain things.

Do you need a college degree?

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If

you love what you are doing you will be successful” Tracy (2017). In this video

Tracy talks about whether if a person really need to go to college and pay a high

tuition fee to reach success. It depends on an individual’s dream or goal if

whether he/she needs to go to college, if their dream is to be a doctor and lawyer

therefore they need to go to college, but if an individual’s dream is to be a chef,

or line with business they can skip college. If an individual went to college and

became successful it does not mean that it is the only way to became successful.

Tracy (2017)

Experiences

6 Successful Entrepreneurs You Might Not Want to Tell Your Kids About

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 If one wants to be assured that its future is a sure success, a diploma is a

must and based on statistics it is a yes, but some entrepreneurs proved it wrong.

(Marks, 2017). One of the entrepreneurs is David Karp, the founder of Tumblr.

David Karp dropout from school and learned how to code at a young age.

Dropping out from highschool, Karp turned into an entrepreneur and defied the

odds that a diploma is not necessary to earn the success that a person is longing

all its life, sometimes skills and hardwork is only needed in becoming a

successful entrepreneur.

Entrepreneurs without education: no degree to becoming your own boss

There is no barrier when it comes to becoming a success enterprising

Australian. (Pennington, 2016). Australian entrepreneur Queenslander Maddison

Lawrence is among them. After leaving school at year 2011, Lawrence pursued

her passion in the automotive sector and one of these is the Slick Azz Auto

Detailing which she founded in year 2012. Now, Lawrence employs three staff

and earn $250,000 a year from her business. Queenslander Maddison Lawrence

proved that barriers are no much if one has strong work ethic and drive towards

attaining the tip of its business.

8 Hugely Successful People Who Didn't Graduate College

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 There are a lot of entrepreneurs who did not finish college or had no good

background of education ending up being successful (Smale, 2015). In this study

they are removing the mindset of the people that if you have a high grades, going

to schools etc. you will be successful you just need to be hard working. The study

has a big impact like you do not need to have good grade, but you must work

hard to reach your dreams. One of this is Steve Jobs the founder of Apple, he

has a big impact on many lives. He dropped out in 1972 at Reed College.

Why Many 'C' Students End Up Most Successful

A lot of young people end up poorly in school for so many reasons. Report

cards, GPA, and SAT scores does not give a high point in the real world. (Pozin,

2016). High school and college students finds a couple of things that matters

most than their GPA. Students suffer intense pressure both inside the family and

in society because they need to perform excellently in their studies and Grades

measure the performance they have showed. Even President George H.W. Bush

admitted, "I refuse to release my high school transcript because I failed chemistry

and I do not want anyone to know that." This only shows that even students

failed they can also reach the success of their life.

Should You Go to College If You Want to Be an Entrepreneur?

15
 There are many stories in the history and media of some people that had

been successful even though that they did not graduated from college, like Bill

Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and John Paul DeJoria. (Roth, 2017). The people that

are cited did not finish college but it does not mean that they cannot be

successful. These people used their skills or things that they are good at and

because of that they have reached the success that they are now experiencing.

Successful people that made it Big without a College Degree

According to Crow (2017), most people automatically believed that going

to school, having good grades, working really hard and etc. are the things that

are needed to be successful in life. Those are the mindset of some people and

they believed that if you are unable to finish your studies, your future and life will

end. But with hard work, nothing is impossible.

Education is somehow very important but it is not always necessary.

There are plenty of entrepreneurs that are not able to finish college but they still

managed to have a successful life. (Crow, 2017). Some of these entrepreneurs

dropped out of college because of the things that they want to pursue like Will

Smith and Ralph Lauren. Yes, education is really important but there are times

that a person must give up their education because of financial problem like

Steve Jobs.

16
 A strong personality will always find a way. Education can be a step closer

to your dreams or a road that will block the way to your achievement. And if

education is an obstacle, the spirit of your will and hard work will push it aside to

achieve the things that you want to have. (Crow, 2017). Having a strong fighting

spirit and perseverance will always help a person to find a way to solve any

problem. Education can either be an advantage or disadvantage to your dreams.

But because of having a certain goal, the disadvantages must not be a threat in

pursuing your dreams.

Motivation

How to Drop Out of High School and Still Succeed in Life

Drop out means quit to studies not quit to life or to give up your life (Lee,

2018). We all have different challenges and hopes, we also have different paths

does not mean that in order to be successful you must follow the path of the

many. Dropping out does not mean you are stuck there and you will never go

forward, you will continue life in order to be successful.

Is a College Degree Necessary to be an Entrepreneur?

Starr (2017) in her article “Is a College Degree Necessary to be an

Entrepreneur” discussed the advantages of going to college and not going to

17
college. The advantages of going to college are they can gain knowledge and

experience, they can meet new people. While the advantages of not going to

college are they can save money, they always have an option “Your success is

defined by the choices you make, with or without college.” (Starr, 2017)

This Explains Why So Many College Dropouts Are Successful in Life

As indicated by Oppong (2014) dropouts has no other option but to push

themselves to be successful, dropouts starts earlier on doing their business,

dropouts are strong and can conquer failures, dropouts want to learn and explore

new things. Dropouts had a stronger mindset to strive harder because of failure

they experienced. Also, school dropouts have advantage than others with

diploma because even dropouts do not have diploma they have different ways on

how to have a business and be successful with it.

Should You Skip College to Start a Business?

Being an entrepreneur is being more susceptible and fascinating, instead

of taking up college they started opening for businesses and also you need to be

equip with various traits to be more successful (Carmela, 2017). Having a spirit to

be an entrepreneur, like if you are inspired to start a business do not hesitate to

do it, accepting failure, accepting in a way that you will leave everything like you

will be back to zero, and also your passion must overcome all of it. In real life

situation these will help to be more eager to achieve success.

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Synthesis

From all the different related literatures and studies that were presented

by the researchers, it can be inferred that school dropouts can be successful

despite of failing a subject and dropping out from school. School dropouts are

overcomers of this barriers, with this, studies prove that they can be successful

entrepreneur overtime and be a boss of their own business. Also, based on the

related literatures and studies that the researchers gathered, dropping out from

school or having the difficulties of finishing it that does not mean that the life of a

person would end there. Others, still, will make a way to reach their dreams and

have the success in life that they want to. Nevertheless, school dropouts achieve

more success rather than those who have college degrees.

However, facing the thought of school dropouts on not receiving a

successful or exciting and fulfilling life because of dropping out of university is

very irrational or wrong. Eduction is important for the youth, as it develops the

tool of their trade, and with enhancing skill necessary for life independent of their

parents. People must try and get a better look at their mindset; the quality that

makes them human- their strengths, intelligence and characteristics. University is

important but it is not the solution for everyone's socio-economic standing in life.

19
In the end, they must engage their minds and souls to learn and do something to

overweigh their failures and start with the process of finding and achieving inner

will and power to push forward with the life trials.

Therefore, school dropouts pursued this route in life because they did not

give up on their dreams and aspirations. It gave them the will and the drive to get

out of the situation they so desperately want to get out of, and it made them

successful because so. Remember, being a postgraduate student does not

necessarily mean you are entitled to a job 100%, all the time. There is always a

competition from the crowd, and there is always someone who ought to be better

than you. A knowledge based on society we lived in, yet the context is purely

practical and technical; life lessons are learnt through experiences and not by

book. Being through this challenge and getting ahead will result in a inspirational

energies being conveyed by the older generation who are passing through the art

of human knowledge to the youth of today, as it always since the dawn of time.

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 Chapter III

Research Methodology

This chapter includes the methods and instruments used in gathering data

and infromation about the study. The research design, participants of the study,

sampling procedure, research instrument, data gathering procedure, data

validation procedure and data analysis are included in this chapter of the

research study.

Research Design

According to Crossman (2018), a qualitative research is all about getting

non-numerical data that seeks to interpret data to help us to understand social

life through tagerted populations. Qualitative research is type of social research

that provides an in-depth information into the lived experiences of the school

dropouts who became successful.

The researchers used phenomenology as its approach in the qualitative

research. Sauro (2015) defined phenomenology as appropriate qualitative

method. In a phenomenological approach the researchers conducts interviews

and ask questions about the lived experiences of the participants in order for the

21
researchers to know more about the topic that is being examined by the

researchers.

Participants of the Study

The participants of the study are school dropouts who became successful

in their business, with ages ranging from 48-76 years old. The five random

participants who are school dropouts and became successful in their business

where from Metro Manila and the background of the participants includes the

lived experiences and problems that they overcome.

Sampling Procedure

According to Crossman (2018), a purposive sampling is known as

judgemental, selective, or subject sampling where non-probability sample will

base on the characteristics of a population and the objective of the study. The

purposive sampling will comprehend base on what characteristics the researcher

will give to gather the participants of the study.

To fulfill the goal of the purposive sampling technique, specific criteria will

be considered by the researchers in getting the successful school dropout. The

participator will come from around Metro Manila, ages ranging from 48-76 years

old, who are successful in fields of business but did not finish their studies.

Research Instrument

22
 The researchers used an aide memoire as an instrument that helped the

researchers gather data to the study. An aide memoire helps a person to

remember something (Cambridge Dictionary 2018). The aide memoire served as

a guide during the process of interview. The aide memoire was validated by the 3

research teacher to ensure its validity and significance of the study.

The researchers used a semi-structured interview. In a semi-structured

interview the researchers will more likely to ask open ended question they will not

follow the list of question rigorously (Doyle, 2018). As the researchers used semi-

structured interview, it will make the study natural because it is open for new

informations that will depend on the answers of the participants.

Researcher’s Role

As researchers conducted this qualitative, phenomenological study they

explored the lived experiences of school dropouts that became successful in the

field of business. And this supported and know the experience of being a school

dropout.

The researchers provided a consent letter that contains the agreement

between the researchers and the interviewee. The researchers made sure of that

all of them has no personal connection with the participants. And the questions

that are asked are not bias with the researchers. For the sake of the participant,

the researchers made sure of that the data that are collected and the personal

23
information about the partcipant are confidential. The researchers made sure of

that the questions that are asked did not offend and harm the interviewee. And

the identity of the participant are not publicly shown. After the interview, the

researchers carefully analyzed the data.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researchers made a consent letter and give it to the participants

asked for permission that they agree to participate in the research. The letter is

given by the researchers’ adviser so that the researchers proceeded in

conducting the interview. If the participants confirmed their willingness to

participate in the study, the researcher asked the participants if they want to hide

their identity for protection of privacy and confidentiality of information. Whenever

the participants decides to withdraw at any time during the interview and

whatever the decision of the participants was, the researchers will highly respect

the decision of the participants and will not question their decision.

With the proper supervision and guidance that were given by the

researchers’ adviser, the researchers have gained the right amount of knowledge

and understanding to proceed in the interview of the participants. Through the

thorough interview that lasted for maximum of 1 hour per meeting, the

researchers’ aide memoire is used as the guide to complete the central purpose

of the study.

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Data Validating Procedure

The field text is subjected by 3 validation procedures. Member checking is

one of the validating procedure where the results or data will be return back to

the participants to check, assure, and clarify it (Birt, Scott, Cavers, Campbell, &

Walter, 2016). Then the researcher will be going to use inter-coder agreement or

cross-checking procedure. In this procedure, two person or more are going to

analyze the same data and they are going to compare at each other (MAXQDA,

2018) .The last procedure will be peer debriefing technique. In this procedure

there is one expert that is going to check the field text to ensure the accuracy of

the data (Janesick, 2015)

The theme is validated by the experts in the field to check if all the themes

are accurate to the purpose of the study.

Data Analysis

In this section of the study, the researchers analyzed the data that are

collected carefully through interpretative phenomenological data analysis (IPA).

According to Austin and Sutton (2015), it enables the researchers to have the

opportunity to be in the situation and understand the lived experiences of the

25
participants. In these way, the researchers gain more information of how the

participants feel about the topic.

The process of analyzing the data collected, starts by the researchers

carefully reading all the responses of the participants after they have answered

the questions. Then the researchers evaluated those qualified participants from

those that are not-qualified for the interview that the researchers conducted.

Transcribing the recordings of the interviews is also a one way to easily analyze

the data or help support and find answers for the study. Then the researchers

formed or made a conclusion on how school dropouts became successful in their

business.

26
 Chapter IV

Presentation, Interpretation and Analysis of Data

This chapter presents the findings, analysis and interpretation of data that

is based on the sequence of questions.

Findings

Problem #1: What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a School

dropout in the field of food business?

With the use of thematic analysis, data revealed four (4) themes that

describe the experiences of school dropouts, specifically their ways of becoming

successful in their present business despite their past situation. In the following

discussion, you will learn what struggles they had encountered as school

dropouts and what strategies they used to surpass their experience and become

successful businessmen. Therefore, the researchers generated a theme are the

following: Endeavor, Challenges, Perseverance, and Achievement called E. C. P.

A. model as shown in the figure below.

27
 Achievement

Challenges
Perseverance

Endeavor

Figure 2. E. C. P. A.

The first theme is the Endeavor. This refers on the ways on how school dropouts

keep on going to become successful despite of their condition, their condition is

their motivation to keep on going. Endeavor in the model is represented by the

feet of a school dropout that enables him to keep on pushing the rock which

represents the problem that hinders school dropouts in achieving success in their

business.

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 Table 1

Participants’ Verbalizations about Endeavor

Theme Participant Verbalization

Endeavor N.D “Sipag at tyaga ang

puhunan mo dapat may

pagtitiis at masipag ka.”

N.B “tapos naisip ko na bakit

hindi ako mag branch,

kasi maraming nagsasabi

sa’kin na magfranchise

ako edi, ako nalang, bakit

pa ako mag pafranchise,

kaya ako nalang kumuha

ng mga tao, pinapwesto

ko sa isang pwesto.”

N.S “Kailangan niyo kase pag

wala ka na at walang

wala ka naring iprprovide

sa pangangailangan mo.

29
 Kasi mahirap lang

parents mo di ka niya

kayang pag aralin.

Pagsisikap.”

T.B “Tyaga at tsaka sipag

lang ang kailangan.”

N.C “Di naman ako nakapag

tapos e kaya mag sikap

nalang ako. Nangarap din

ako,pangarap ko yun e”

Based on the verbalization of the participants, they strived hard to reach

their dreams. They had the need to be patient and hard working for them to be

successful. The participants gave their extra effort because of the fact that they

were not able to finish their studies. Nevertheless, they were able to reach their

dreams, earn money and become successful because of their skills.

Problem #2: What are the different problems that you have faced in the field

of food business?

The theme challenges refer to all the problems faced by the participants.

For the participants, these problems in establishing their business were difficult.

30
This theme is symbolized by the rock as it hinders school dropouts as they try to

achieve their success. Nevertheless, they remained determined to keep on

pushing the rock out of their way which leads to the next theme, Perseverance.

These problems are also the reasons why school dropouts learned ways to

handle them. In the same way, the rock will teach the school dropout to act by

pushing against it.

Table 2

Participants’ Verbalizations about Challenges

Theme Participants Verbalization

Challenges N.D “Nakabuti yung

pagtulong ko kasi, 18

years old palang ako

natuto na kong ng

kanilang ginagawa na

mayroon silang canteen,

tapos nung binenta yung

canteen sa public market

sabi ko sa nanay ko

bilhin namin yon. Alam

mo nung umpisa wala

kaming pangbili isang

31
 libo lang hanggang

dalawang libo ang

puhunan nagsangla pa

kami ng lupa sa

Bulacan… oo

nakakaiyak yun…”

“Syempre nung umpisa

wala kang puhunan,

problema yon. Yun nga

sinasabi ko sainyo

nagsangla pa kami ng

lupang sakahan para

makabili ng pwesto.”

“Pag ka mahal lahat ng

bilihin onti na kita mo.”

T.B “Ah syempre pag kabit

ng kuryente… kailangan

tignan mo yung kuryente

32
 kasi may illegal pa sila

noon... pati tubig din

pala, mahirap kailangan

pagtyagaan mo

nanaman another utang

nanaman. Puro utang.”

“Sa dami dami ng mga

kwan na nagsulputan…

kompetensiya.”

“Isang masama eh yung

lumabas yung mga

instant noodle… ayun

ayun yung nakaapekto

parin sa karinderya…

malaki malaki apekto

non.”

N.B “Ngayon nawalan ako ng

dalawang tao kaya nag

33
 pull out ako ng dalawang

branch.”

“Kunware kung unang

araw mo, syempre di pa

mabili.”

“Minsan pag kamatumal.

N.S “Syempre mahirap….

Kasi syempre mag start

ka mamimili ng mga

kailangan, gamit

talagang magsasacrifice

kamuna sa umpisa”

N.C “Nagtayo ako ng

karinderya.. nalugi ako,

nabuntis ako ayun.”

“Puro utang, 56 ganon

haha nagkautang din ako

34
 ng 150k ayun.”

“Di maiiwasan yung

gastos ganon opera

ayun.”

Based on school dropout's verbalization, the challenges they handle are

lack of financial just like money, too much inflation, and competence in this

growing economy, too many debts, and lack of employees, but these challenges

will make the school dropout have a good foundation. Some of these problems

cannot conquer it but you must strive so that you can be successful. This

challenges can help or be stepping a stone to achieve your peak.

Problem #3: What make you become success in your chosen field despite

of being a school dropout?

The next theme is Perseverance, which refers to the ability of school

dropouts in overcoming all the challenges they have encountered their pursuit to

be successful in life. This also means that they kept on accomplishing their goals

despite the difficulties their problems bring. The hands of the school dropout

represent perseverance in not quitting on the challenges and keep pushing all

35
the challenge to achieve success

Table 3

Participants’ Verbalizations about Perseverance

Theme Participant Verbalization

Perseverance N.D “Oo walang bayad, don

lang ako titira kaya hindi

nakapagaral …

nakipagsapalaran ako

nung 18 yrs old ako nag

tayo kami ng kainan sa

central market.”

N.B “Wala talagang

nagbakasakali lang, ang

una talaga kami eh ano

rtw, tapos hindi kami

pinalad nag bananaque

kami edi napagisipan

naming na mag dagdag

ng halo-halo. Yun ang

pinagsikapan na naming

awa ng Diyos ayos

36
 naman nag dirediretso

naman nagustuhan ng

tao. Inalagaan na

namin….”

“Syempre alam kong

hindi ako nakapag tapos

kaya nag sikap ako . Nag

negosyo nalang ako.”

N.S. “uhmmm… Nag sikap

kami na makaipon ng

kaoonting puhunan tapos

nag hanap kami ng

pwesto kahit maliit pang

umpisa.”

T.B. “Oo kasi kung susuko

baka sakaling mag click

pa ulit”

“Kailangan gumawa ng

paraan, kailangan

37
 gumawa ng bagong

menu…sabayan mo yung

panlasa ng mga ano.”

N.C “Di ako tumigil di ako

nawalan ng pagasa.

Kahit bumagsak di ako

tumitigil.”

Based on what the participants verbalized the business owner must have

a full heart to find a business that will click, attitude of never say die, and do not

lose hope. School Dropout never stop their passion on their business to achieve

the successful life. Even if their business is so down they still cope up, they

adjust in the situation they are facing.

The last and the final theme is the Achievement. This theme refers to the

success that the school dropouts had achieved in their business despite of their

challenges and condition. This themes is represented by the peak of the

mountain which serves as the end goal of school dropouts after overcoming the

challenges they faced.

Table 4

38
 Participants’ Verbalization about Achievement

Theme Participant Verbalization

Achievement N.D “Syempre malaking

bagay na din yun, na

mayroon negosyo kahit di

ka nakapag aral

nagkaroon ka ng

negosyo diba?”

“Napaka laking

achievement din na

mapagtapos ko ang

aking anak at apo sa

magagandang paaralan.”

“ Oo nalagay kami sa

manila bulletin,

pinuntahan kami dito nila

Kris Aquino ayon

pumunta si Kris Aquino

kasi pinakamatandang

39
 canteen sa buong asya.”

“Nakapag aral din mga

anak ko sa UST e”

N.B “Hangga’t umabot kami

ng 10 years. Pero 4

years nagkaroon ako ng

isang branch. 5 years

nagkaroon ako ng pang

anim…ito pang pito na to

eh.”

“Pero sa ngayon marami

na kaming pagkukunan.

Kasi yung halo halo, una

kami bananaque. Pag

katapos ng bananaque,

nakapundar kami ng

isang garments.

Garments as in

garments, patahian..

40
 nasa Pampanga. Nung

makaipon uli kami,

nagpundar pa ulit kami

ng isa pa.”

“Nakapundar din kami ng

L300 panghatid.”

“Yung anak ko nagtapos

den dyan sa UE”

N.S. “Nagsimula kami nung

may konti kami kasi

ganito yan yung work

naming nag karoon ng

problema, syempre may

experience na kami nag

isip kami na mag karoon

ng sarili kaya ayun nag

kataon na pinag

kaluuban kami so

sinamantala na namin”

T.B. “Nag simula sa kanton

lang tapos nagkaroon ng

41
 mami,eh nung nakita

naming na maganda tong

pwesto binuksan na

naming bilang karinderya

tas lumaki ng lumaki.”

N.C “Tama lang mga

pambayad sa school ng

anak ko.”

“Ayan oh may mineral

water kami dyan sa tabi.”

Based on the verbalization of the participants, they all manage to achieve

so many things even if they were not able to finish college. Moreover, they stated

that their improved lifestyles are because of their business. Some of them used

their income on building another business and some of them send their child to a

good school and they get the tuition from the earnings from their business. They

are proud of the achievements that they had achieved

CENTRAL QUESTION: How School dropouts became successful in the

field of food business?

42
 The researchers gathered responses of the participants on how they

became successful in the food business.

Table 5

Name Verbalization

N.D “Ahh mga paraan … Ang paraan kasi kapag nag-

business ka, kailangan una, sipag, tyaga at tsaka yung

negosyo mo malinis at masarap.”

“Ayun nga madasalin at maging mabait sa kapwa mo

yung mga tauhan ko maniniwala ba kayo yang mga

yan yaya pa ng mga anak ko ilang taon na sila kaya

kailangan lang sa magnenegosyo marunong kang

umalaga sa tauhan niyo ituring niyong pamilya..”

N.B “Sipag, tyaga ganon.”

“Kailangan mahalin mo yung paninda mo… para

marami kangcustomer.”

N.S “Lakas ng loob, nagprpray. Syempre unang una hihingi

tayo ng tulong sa itaas kasi alam ko siya nag bigay

43
 sakin nito. Kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko pag bigay ng mahal

na Panginoon walang imposible na di mo kaya diba?

Sakanya tayo humihingi ng lakas.”

T.B “Tyaga..Sipag… Tyaga at sipag yung ano kailangan

mahinahon ka.”

“Oo, yung patience ka sa mga tao.”

N.C “Diskarte sa pamamalengke. Dapat kailangan mag

budget ganon.”

Based on their responses they became successful by being diligent in

their work and because they have perseverance. The food must be clean and

delicious so that the customers will love it. One of the key in having a successful

life is having patience in everything you do. Being wise in budgeting money can

also be a factor in having a successful life because if you have a lot of money but

spend it badly you will never be successful. Having faith with God is one of the

helpful tool and not lose hope because He will you to achieve it. These are the

attributes that a business owner should have in order for them to be successful.

Discussion

44
 This study aims to discover the experience of school dropouts, specifically

how they became successful in their business despite their condition. The

researchers used semi-structured questions and ask the participants. The

answered of the participants contains their positive and negative experiences

and how they handle these kinds of experiences. The participants of the study

are drop outs that have experienced or experiencing problems in their business.

Most of the participants answered that work hard and patience are the most

important key to success in food business. They really enjoying and loving their

business. They also love their employees and treat them like their family. The

participants are continuously working hard for their children and grandchildren to

have a better life. The themes generated in the study comes from the answers of

the participants. The researcher formulated the model E. C. P. A. which stands

for endeavor, challenges, perseverance, and achievement. These themes can be

illustrated by a representation of achievement is missing. According to study,

Endeavor refers to the person’s way of moving forward. It represented by the

feet of the man, a feet that kept the man to move forward towards the peak.

Based on the participants' answers, feet is represented by their families. It is their

inspiration to move forward no matter how hard life becomes. For them, they are

their source of energy, strength, and will to fight, move forward and overcome all

their problems. Challenges refers to the problems that faced by the school

dropouts in establishing a business. It represented by the rock. In their business,

this refers to the problems that they experienced in their business. Problems that

45
mold them to became a good businessman, problems that teach them a lesson

and problems that motivated them to strive harder to achieve their goals and

dreams. Perseverance refers to a person’s drive to reach its ambition even if it is

too difficult for him/her to achieve it. It is represented by the hand, a hand that

pushing the rock no matter how heavy it is. Just like the participants no matter

how heavy their problems are, they still keep pushing to achieve their goals or

dreams in life. As such, the participants kept on achieving their goals or dreams

in life no matter how heavy their problem are. Achievement refers to the

outcome of one's hardwork. It is represented as the peak of the mountain.

Because of the man's perseverance to push the rock upwards and out of his

path, he was able to reach the peak of the mountain. Likewise, the participants

were able to become successful in life despite the struggles they encountered.

Instead of seeing them as hindrances, they used them as their inspiration to

strive harder to reach their goals.

Chapter V

46
 Summary of Findings, Conclusion and Recommendations

This paper presents a summary of research study, the conclusion and its

significant findings, and recommendations are also discussed.

Summary of Findings

School drop outs that became successful in their food business are the

focus of this study. The main purpose of this study is to know how they become

successful in food business even though they dropped out from school. This

study aimed to answer the specific questions that are under the central problem

which is: “How school drop outs became successful in the field of food business.”

And the sub problems are: “What are the advantages and disadvantages of

being a school dropout?”, “What are the different problems that you have faced in

the field of food business?” and “What makes you become successful in your

chosen field despite of being a school dropout?” This study will help the school

drop outs, future researchers, general public, businessmen, and teenagers. In

able for them to have an inspiration and have patience in able to achieve

success.

The researchers found some literatures that are related to the study. Like

the study “The Education of Millionaires.” According to Ellsberg (2012), there is a

47
wrong belief in having a good grades, get into college and have a degree are the

things that are needed in order to be successful. But the thing that a people must

learn is the world skill. Because not all who have a degree become successful. A

person must learn things such as real life skills in able to achieve a certain thing.

The related literatures are needed for the study to have a support and basis.

The researcher used the main instrument such as the aide memoir as a

guide in gathering the data. The aide memoir contains a question that is used to

ask the participants and their answers are the data. After the interview, the

researchers transcribed the answers of the participants. Then the researchers

analyzed and categorized the answers based on the themes. The researchers

interviewed five participants who became successful in food business, in order to

answer the central problem. And after the last step, the data will be validated by

an expert or the participant itself to prove that the answers and the interpretation

of the researchers to what the participant is pointing out are accurate.

In this study, the ways and experiences on how school dropout became

successful in food business was defined and explained through the presentation

of the E. C. P. A. model. These themes are namely: endeavor, challenges,

perseverance, and achievement. And it is formed because of the lived

experiences of school dropouts in the field of food business.

Based from the statements of the participants, the first component is

endeavor, wherein the school dropout does not stop in working hard to be

48
successful. Despite of being a school dropout they did not stop in finding out new

things to improve their life and business. Next is challenges, being a school

dropout, faces a lot of challenges in their life also in business. Like in starting a

business, it requires a capital so owners cannot prevent to have a debt. Still they

managed to overcome it. Perseverance, in order to be successful it is important

to have determination on the things that you do in able to the business to be a

success. And believing in yourself is a key to achieve the things that you want.

Lastly is achievement, despite of the struggles, challenges that a school dropout

faced. They still managed to rise because of having perseverance in able to

bounce back after unexpected challenges happens. And because of the

experiences they learn to use it as motivations to be successful and achieve their

business that they have now.

Conclusion

This phenomenological study generated the E. C. P. A model which

describes the lived experiences of school dropouts in the field of business. This

study concluded the experiences and came up with the following conceptual

themes:

1. Endeavor refers to the person’s way to keep on going forward and

striving hard.

49
 2. Challenges refers to the problems that faced by the school dropouts in

establishing a business.

3. Perseverance refers to a person’s drive to reach its ambition even if it

is too difficult for him/her to achieve it.

4. Achievement refers to the outcome of the hard work of a person.

Recommendations

Based on the summary of findings and results, the researchers

recommend this study as a basis but not subjected in giving averts such as:

For the Future Food Business Owners:

1. They should share effective ways on how to make a food business

become successful.

2. They should have traits like determination, passion and resilient in order

for the business to be successful.

For the Future Researchers:

50
 1. They can make this study wider and deeper by adding additional data that

will give aid to the study

2. They can add more participants to have a variety of answers to their sub-

questions.

3. They can use this study as a basis for their review of related literature and

studies.

4. They are also encouraged to make their scope out of Metro Manila.

For the School Dropouts:

1. They should continue to aim for their goal in becoming successful even

though they were not able to graduate from college.

2. They should learn how to bounce back from the challenges that they are

experiencing.

For the Students:

1. They should know and prepare themselves if they are deciding to start a

food business of their own.

2. They should not easily give up on their studies and aim to finish their

studies for better opportunities because in the real world it is not all about

the mind learn from experiences and let those experiences be your

teacher

51
 3. They should get motivation and inspiration from this study because they

can use this study to be motivated because if we can do it they can do it

also

For the Readers:

1. They should know how school dropouts overcome the problems that they

have faced in terms of business, family and general public.

2. They should know that even though a person is a school dropout, they can

also be successful through hard work.

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