Bridges of hope

The stories of those who have gone through the alternative learning

Abstract

This study explores the stories of students who had stopped formal schooling and experienced being in the Alternative Learning System (ALS), which is another form of education that is not commonly taken, for those who want to get back into the educational system. Using Narrative Inquiry, specifically Labov and Waletzky’s six-part narrative analysis for the construction (The Abstract, Orientation, Complicating Action, Evaluation, Resolution, and Coda), seven (7) informants were interviewed about their stories and experiences throughout the entirety of their academic pursuit with ALS. Five (5) main plots emerged from the interviews, namely: (a) “The Wanderer’s Quandary”; (b) “The Fork at the End of the Road”; (c) “The Path Less Traveled”; (d) “The Unceasing River”; and (e) “The Open Field.” Each main plot has corresponding subplots for each informant. The findings revealed that the experience of being an ALS student is not easy. Being in a different form of education, different from what society usually pursues, comes stigma. Strong will and perseverance had lead these people to go through with ALS. It became their bridge of hope to a second chance towards their pursuit through education.