LEARNING THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: THE MEANING OF STRESS AMONG FIRST-YEAR COLLEGE STUDENT

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all sectors in the society, particularly the educational system as schools were forced to shut down in order to prevent the spread of the virus. This study sought to provide information focused on the first-year college students as they transition to college during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study focused on the meaning of stress for them, their sources of stress and how they cope with the feeling of being stress.

The participants of this study were students from Big Margus Glan, currently enrolled as first-year college. They were selected through a non-probability purposive technique. Key informant interview comprising of open-ended questions was used in data gathering and thematic analysis was used in analyzing the data. Data were analyzed through reading and rereading of the transcript of interviews to cull out key themes as the basis of writing the experiences of the participants. The new learning mode have greatly contributed to the first-year college students' stress. Findings revealed that stress for the participants was interpreted as something that was affecting them psychologically. Internet connection, finances and the heavy workloads from school found to be the common causes of stress for these students. Furthermore, themes such as spiritual coping, social support and optimism are found to helped them to cope with stress.