Abstract
This study explored the lived experiences of teachers teaching in Zaragoza Island. Even though many studies explore rural education, there is little or no specific research about the experiences of teachers in Zaragosa Island especially their sea travel challenges, lack of support systems, and daily struggles they faced. This study used descriptive phenomenology as its research design anchored on the Thematic Analysis of Braun and Clarke. Anchoring the thematic analysis of Braun and Clark, this study explored the experiences of 5 participants following the purposive sampling technique. This study was conducted through online interviews via Facebook Messenger to respect the teachers’ uninterrupted vacation time. After analyzing the data, this study created emerging themes to explicitly describe their experiences. The themes were summed to WAVES which stands for Withstanding the Tides, Aches and Adjustment, Voices of Experience, Encounters with Learning and Surmounting the Odds. Waves the WAVES presents a thematic representation of the core struggles and resilience of island teachers, grounded in their real-life experiences. This study aims to give voice to their experiences and highlight the need for targeted support systems and improved working conditions.
