Challenges, Motivations, and Resiliency of Third-Year Radiologic Technology Students in Pursuing the Radiologic Technology Program

This research explored the challenges, motivations, and resilience of third-year Radiologic Technology students at Calamba Doctors College as they progressed through the program. In particular, it aimed to ascertain the extent of challenges in academic demands, financial constraints, and pre-clinical readiness; the level of motivation regarding academic achievement goals, family support, and institutional support; and the level of resiliency regarding emotional regulation, career aspirations, and self-efficacy. The research was a quantitative, descriptive design with a structured Likert-scale questionnaire. All respondents were third-year Radiologic Technology students attending the Academic Year 2025-2026, selected through total enumeration sampling. Frequency, standard deviation, percentage, and weighted mean were used to analyze data. The results indicated that the students reported severe difficulties across all areas of their academic work, citing multiple challenges, including academic requirements and financial demands, as the most serious obstacles. The students showed high motivation, particularly when driven by their academic achievement goals and when their family members supported them. The respondents demonstrated exceptional strength in dealing with challenging situations, with their resilience at a very high level. The study participants demonstrated normal emotional coping skills, driven by their career goals and self-confidence, while their emotional control showed the least development. The researchers developed a comprehensive action plan based on their research findings, supported by data-driven evidence. The plan uses Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) training and learning resource upgrades, along with peer support programs, to improve institutional support systems and help students manage their emotions and prepare for their upcoming hospital internships.