Narrative of respondent 1

Co-researcher 1 is one of many STEM students who dealt with oral performance struggles.
Many people may assume that if you are in a strand that requires good grades means you also
perform in class well, but it is not the case for her, at least not orally. Even as a child oral
performances are not her forte so she has a hard time coping with it. Below is what she said
when she was ask if she like to recite in front of the class when she were in elementary:

“Hindi rin. Hindi ako masyado talaga… Kinakabahan kasi ako lagi”

Even so, socializing or interacting with other people is not a huge issue for her unlike in performing
orally. She said during the interview that her favorite memories that happened at school is when she
was playing chinese garter with her classmates, a famous filipino game especially in young girls. On
the other hand the scariest thing for her that also happened at school is when she was called during
recitation but she doesn’t know the answer.

“kapag nagchi-chinese garter po kami…”

“kapag tinatawag ako sa recitation tas di ko alam ang sagot…”

Oral performance struggles don't exist out of nowhere, there are factors that affect an
individual to perform well. In her experiences overthinking and mental block affects her
performances, these two reasons evolve from having anxiety during this kind of situation.
She said that thinking that her answer is not right and being afraid of being embarrassed
hinders her in performing well.

“Na.. a-ano ako minsan kasi baka minsan mali yung sagot ko, ganon
natatakot ako mapahiya, ganon.”

“Nabo-block out ako, nakakalimutan ko yung mga dapat sasabihin ko…”\

She has no clear strategy for dealing with these situations in order to reduce negative feelings
and worry. For instance, meditation, exercising, or writing to assess the situation for a better
approach. She dealt with disappointments in the past by moving on, and she reduced her
anxiety during oral presentations by reminding herself that it was for her grade. Even though
there is no clear strategy she manages it in her own way to do better. In terms of performing
well in recitation what she does is repeatedly reading and writing the topics for her to easily
remember the lesson.
 Wala, ano lang… *laugh* ano ba… pano ba… sige… move-on na lang *laugh* ganon”

“Wala naman, iniisip ko lang talaga na para sa grade…”

“Ano.. ang ginagawa ko kasi ano… kapag halimbawa may oral recitation ang ginagawa ko…
paulit-ulit ko talagang binabasa tapos minsan sinusulat ko rin para mas lalo kong ma… ma…
matandaan yung ano… lesson”

A problem, like any other, required a solution. But, like our Co-researcher 1, you will face numerous
conflicts, struggles, and disappointments before arriving at a solution. Nonetheless, she does not see it
as an opportunity to quit up, but rather as an opportunity to work harder in order to improve and
become better.