Gusto ko maging __________: a phenomenological study of career identity formation of UP Manila students.

Abstract

This study sought to explore career identity formation, the factors that influences it and its effect on the life of the individual, among the college students of UP Manila. Sixteen (16) graduating students from the different colleges of the university namely, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Allied Medical Professions, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy and College of Public Health, were randomly selected to participate for an in-depth interview. The results gathered different themes that indicated several factors that motivate and influences the career identity formation of the college students. These are their personal interests, personal goals, personal experiences, familial factors, friends, educational institution, society, birth order, gender and age. The study also realized that their internship and the media serves as a reinforcement in their career identity formation. Their career choices tend to have a positive and negative effect in the social life and the academic performance of the college students. Their career choice tends to give them a new perspective on how to interact with people which results deeper interaction and tightening relationships, while on the other hand their education also takes precedence over their dealings and interaction with people. Their career choice also pushed the students to become better, more confident and achieve better grades, yet it also gave them feelings of weariness, difficulty and obligation. Lastly, the participants were able to indicate that their career identity is able to contribute to their personal identity in different ways and others were able to indicate that their personal identity is the one that contributed to their career identity. The examples of the different identity status of Marcia were also realized from the stories of the students. The formation of the career identity of students is recommended to be monitored by the academic institution they belong. Programs that will encourage student to explore several career options before committing to a particular degree and those that will give support and assistance to students who are having difficulty during their career identity formation are recommended.