Getting Motivated: Coping with Academic Failure

Introduction

Motivation is an essential factor in achieving success in academic pursuits. However,

academic failure is a common issue faced by students in the Philippines. It can significantly
impact their motivation and ability to succeed in their educational endeavors. Coping with
academic failure requires a combination of strategies, including understanding the root cause of
the failure, reframing the experience, seeking support from peers and professionals, and
developing a growth mindset. This paper explores the different ways of coping with academic
failure and provides evidence-based strategies to help students of Liloan National High School
(LNHS)

Academic failure can stem from various sources, including poor study habits, lack of
understanding of course content, poor time management, test anxiety, and mental health issues
such as depression or anxiety. In the Philippines, the lack of resources, particularly in public
schools, can contribute to academic failure. According to a 2018 report by the Philippine
Statistics Authority, 25% of Filipino families live below the poverty line. Poverty can limit
access to education, and students from disadvantaged backgrounds may not have the resources to
support their academic pursuits.

Academic failure is a significant challenge faced by Filipino students, particularly those

from disadvantaged backgrounds. Coping with academic failure requires a combination of
strategies, including reframing the experience, seeking support, and developing a growth
mindset. By taking a proactive approach to academic setbacks, Filipino students can regain their
motivation and succeed in their educational pursuits. It is crucial for stakeholders in the
education sector to provide resources and support to students to help them overcome academic
challenges and achieve their goals. Sources: Philippine Statistics Authority. (2018). According to
an article in Psychology Today, reframing involves focusing on the positive aspects of the
situation, such as the knowledge gained from the experience, the resilience demonstrated in
overcoming the setback, and the potential for growth and improvement. By reframing academic
failure, Filipino students can develop a growth mindset, which involves a belief in their ability to
learn and improve over time. The importance of support from teachers, classmates and others
could really contribute to boost the confidence of students after a setback, Students who
experience academic failure in the Philippines should seek support from peers and professionals.
Talking to friends, family, or mentors can provide a sense of validation and help students to feel
less alone in their struggles. Additionally, seeking support from academic advisors, tutors, or
mental health professionals can provide students with the tools and resources they need to
succeed. In the Philippines, some organizations and initiatives aim to provide educational
support to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. For example, the "Kariton Klasrum"
project provides mobile classrooms to street children to help them access education. Developing
a growth mindset is crucial for coping with academic failure in the Philippines. According to a
study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology, students who believe that intelligence
is malleable and can be improved through effort are more likely to persevere through academic
setbacks and achieve success. Encouraging Filipino students to develop a growth mindset can be
accomplished through various means, such as praise for effort rather than natural ability,
emphasizing the importance of hard work, and providing opportunities for students to reflect on
their progress and areas for improvement.

However not all get help from others. A lot of students got discourage to go to school
once the failed academically. Therefore, it is the task of the researchers to explore the lives of
students who have undergone academic failure to provide evidence-based research on the reality
and situations of students going thru academic ordeal.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The purpose of this study aims to explore the lives of students with academic failure and
provide evidence-based strategies for students to cope with and overcome these challenges. The
research question that guides this study are the following

How did the students react towards failure in grades?

What are the experiences, coping mechanisms, and inspiration of students to continue
studying despite failure and what are challenges are in countered during on the process of
achieving a passing grade?

Significance of the Study

This study aims to gather data on the experience, problems and challenges and the coping
strategies of Liloan National High School students in the face of academic failure and how these
strategies affect their motivation to continue pursuing academic success.
The goal of this study and the result can be beneficial to the following:

Schools, the results of this research can provide insights into how schools can support struggling
students and help them develop effective coping strategies.

Students, it’s important to learn about how failing students of Liloan National Highschool cope
in the face of academic failure and how these strategies affect their motivation to continue
pursuing academic success to provide inspiration to other students who in countered the same
problems.

For teachers, this can provide insights into how they can support struggling students and help
them develop effective coping strategies.

For parents, this student can inspire them to be more open-minded and aware of the topic of
academic failure when it comes to their own children.

Definition of Terms

CHAPTER III
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Research Methodology

Environment

This study will be conducted in the Municipality of Liloan, specifically in Liloan

National High School.

Respondents

The respondents for this research will be students from Liloan National High School.
The sample size will be 12 students, with equal numbers from each grade level. Stratified
random sampling technique will be used to ensure that the sample is representative of different
genders, grade levels, and academic performance levels.

Instruments

The data will be collected using two instruments: a self-administered questionnaire and
in-depth interviews. The questionnaire will consist of closed-ended questions and will be used to
gather informative data. The interviews will be used to collect informative data.

Data Gathering Procedure

The data collection will involve in-depth interviews with selected students. The
interviews will be conducted in a private setting, audio-recorded with the participants' consent,
and will last approximately 30-45 minutes.
Plan of Data Analysis

The informative data collected from the questionnaire and interview will be analyzed
using bibliographical method. Ethical Considerations: The research will be conducted with the
approval of the school administration, and informed consent will be obtained from all
participants. Participants will be informed that their participation is voluntary, and they have the
right to withdraw at any time. Confidentiality and anonymity will be ensured, and data will be
stored securely.

REFERENCES

Dweck, C. (2006). Mindset: The new psychology of success. Random House.

Epstein, R. (2019). How to Bounce Back From Academic Failure.

Manila Bulletin. (2019). Kariton Klasrum: A mobile school for street children.
Retrieved from https://mb.com.ph/2019/12/07/kariton-klasrum-a-mobile-school-for-street-
children/ psa.gov.ph

PsychologyToday. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-art-of-failure/201909/how-
bounce-back-academic-failure

Poverty Statistics. Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph/poverty-statistics

psa.gov.ph

Informed Consent for Participant

Title of Research: Getting Motivated: Coping with Academic Failure Researchers : Grade 11
HUMSS D I.
Purpose of this Research: The purpose of this research is to hear out the different experiences of
students who have experienced failing grades, how they are coping with situation and the
challenges they meet on the process of recovery.
II. Extend of Anonymity and confidentiality All students’ responses will be anonymous, and
there will be no identifying information collected in this research project Notes will be taken, but
in the final write up there will be any use of names or any other identifiers, if names are used,
there will be pseudonyms.

CONFORMEE Noted by

_______________ ____________________
Respondent Research Adviser

LETTER ASKING PERMISSION

April 15, 2023

MA. JESUSA G. DIMPAS

Assistant Principal
Liloan National High School
Poblacion, Liloan Cebu

Dear Madam:

Greeting of Peace and Prosperity.

We the students of HUMSS-D Senior High , would like to ask your favorable permission
that we would be allowed to conduct a research survey to the selected students of Liloan
National High School. Our research is entitled Getting Motivated: Coping with Academic
Failure. All student’s responses will be anonymous and the notes will not be available to other
person.

We are hoping for your favorable response on this matter.

Respectfully,

Grade 11 HUMSS-D Research Students