Between Work and Wheels: Lived Experiences of Working Criminology Students

Working university students are increasingly struggling to juggle their job and academic responsibilities, a challenge made more difficult by the commuting conditions in Metro Manila. This phenomenological research investigated the experiences and interpretations of commuting to school after work among criminology students, considering their academic duties and well-being. Employing a qualitative approach, eight (n = 8) working students pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Criminology at a private higher education institution were intentionally selected. Data collection involved semi-structured, in-depth interviews, and analysis was conducted using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method. Four interconnected themes were identified: constant time constraints that lead to rushing and sacrificing personal time; increased alertness and safety awareness due to traffic dangers and environmental threats, with prayer serving as a coping mechanism; criminology education providing discipline, situational awareness, and adaptive regulation; and accumulated physical fatigue that affects academic concentration and performance, necessitating compensatory measures. The study highlights that commuting serves as a crucial lived space where work, study, risk, and survival converge, emphasizing the importance of student-centered institutional policies and support systems for working criminology students.