Left Behind: Unraveling the Story of an Abandoned Child - A Narrative Study

Child abandonment has been a crisis in the Philippines because of its surprisingly growing population. As reported by the Philippines Without Orphans, a non-governmental organization, about 8 million out of 46 million children are orphans. Thus, this study is conducted as it aims to appraise the struggles faced by an abandoned child. This study also aims to evaluate the hardships of being a student regarding academic performance. Only one participant in Brgy. Telaje is considered using purposive sampling. In analyzing the data, thematic analysis is used. Participants faced financial and emotional challenges but managed to meet their needs through work opportunities. However, the participant continues to struggle emotionally due to past traumas associated with parental abandonment. The participant faced academic hardships but remained determined, excelling and achieving honor student status. The data implies that acknowledging and addressing the issue of child abandonment is critical.