Pushing-On: The Poetry of Collegiate Teenage Fathers

Abstract

This study was conducted to explore the lived experiences of collegiate teenage father in Benguet State University located in La Trinidad Benguet. The gathered data provided better knowledge and understanding regarding the experience of collegiate teenage father who are living with their child. The study employed the qualitative-descriptive approach where unstructured and structured interviews were used to clarify the participants’ live experience as teenage father. Key information interview was utilized to gather information. We had chosen the participants based on the following inclusion criteria: 1. who became a father at the age of 13-19, 2. living with their child and 3. Currently college students. 4. Participants signed the consents and were initially interviewed. However, the two terminated their participation during the conduct of this study. Their responses were recorded in the field notes and were later sorted and coded. The collaizi’s seven steps were used to describe the lived experiences of collegiate teenage father. Three categories derived from the transcripts were metaphorically compared to poetry which is the following; 1.narrative of good relationship tells the different events that the teenage fathers experienced events in their life as teenage father. Metrical romance talks about how the teenage fathers maintained their relationship to their partner, family and in-laws while epic tells about the challenges that the teenage father have met as teenage father. 2. Drama of thoughts conveys their innermost thoughts before and during the time they become a teenage father. Monologue talks about the innermost thoughts of their experiences before and after become teenage father while soliloquy tells what the teenage father wants to conveys to the others teenagers. 3. Lyric of lessons learned portrays father’s thoughts on the sad experiences he had. The results of the study are: first, teenage fathers employed/do several strategies to maintain good relationship to their parents, in-laws and partners. Second, teenage father perform their role and responsibility as a student and father. Third, teenage fathers did not expect to become a teenage father. Fourth, participants prioritized their family. Fifth, teenage father want to teenager to prioritize their studies. Sixth, participants regret being a teenage father and have disappointments. Last, teenage fathers’ look into the positive side of their experiences. The conclusion of the study was based from the categories that emanated from the identified themes: first, several strategies are needed to maintain good relationship with the in-laws, family and partner. Second, teenage fathers should be hard-working; third, participants were not prepared to take the responsibility of a teenage father. Fourth, family of the teenage father is valuable. Fifth, teenage fathers do not want other teenagers to become a teenage father. Sixth, lack of support from family and in-laws result to disappointment and regret as teenage father. Last, teenage fathers look into the positive side of their experiences.