Qualitative Research in Practice

1. Chandra's childhood in Guyana: Poverty, family struggles, and limited education

"As a child growing up, I always feared and wondered where my next meal would come from. It was a scary feeling to see the night seeping in and you might not have any food to eat before going to bed."

Extreme poverty defined Chandra's childhood. Growing up in Wales, Guyana, Chandra was the oldest of seven siblings in a family struggling to meet basic needs. Her father worked as a cane cutter, while her mother was a housewife who took on various jobs to help support the family. The scarcity of work and money meant that Chandra was taken out of school at age eight to help with household chores.

Daily survival took precedence over education. Chandra's responsibilities included:

• Cooking and cleaning
• Scrubbing floors
• Fetching water
• Chopping wood
• Preparing meals for the family

This early deprivation of education would have a lasting impact on Chandra's life, fueling her desire to learn and improve her circumstances later in life.

2. Daily life in rural Guyana: Simple living and creative problem-solving

"My mother and grandmother made a mud stove. It's two holes so you can put the pots on the top and then, in the front, it has a hole. So you would stack the wood, and then you would light it, and then it would go up in the two sides so then you could cook."

Resourcefulness was essential for survival. Chandra's family home in Guyana lacked modern amenities, requiring creative solutions for daily tasks:

• Outdoor bathroom and shower facilities
• Mud stove for cooking
• Enamel plates and cups instead of fancy dishes
• Using ground coal as a substitute for toothpaste

Simple pleasures brought joy amidst hardship. Despite the challenges, Chandra remembers some positive aspects of her childhood home:

• A yard full of colorful flowers
• Fruit trees for climbing and picking
• A homemade hammock for relaxation
• Creative play using found objects like candy wrappers as toys

These experiences taught Chandra the value of making the most of limited resources and finding happiness in simple things.

3. The impact of poverty on education and childhood experiences

"It is hard to be uneducated and have to struggle every day of your life to do something like reading, you know, a simple task. Sometimes, people should walk in other people's shoes to feel how hard it is."

Poverty created barriers to education and development. Chandra's family's financial struggles had profound consequences on her childhood:

• Removed from school at age eight to help with household chores
• Limited exposure to role models who valued education
• Inability to afford basic school supplies or toys
• Feelings of embarrassment and inferiority compared to peers

Long-term consequences of limited education. The lack of formal schooling affected Chandra's self-esteem and daily life:

• Difficulty with basic tasks like reading
• Frustration at not being able to learn or improve easily
• A deep-seated desire to continue learning as an adult
• Awareness of the disadvantages faced by uneducated individuals

These experiences shaped Chandra's determination to pursue education later in life and her recognition of its importance for future generations.

4. Family dynamics: Strict parenting and sibling relationships

"My father was a heavy drinker as well. But he was a great man looking back at it now. People respected him at the sugar factory. They all knew who he was because he was a hard worker during the week, and he would go to work if they would call him in the middle of the night."

Complex relationships shaped family life. Chandra's father played a significant role in the family dynamic:

• Known for being strict and using corporal punishment
• Respected as a hard worker at the sugar factory
• Struggled with alcohol addiction, especially on weekends
• Often spent his earnings on alcohol, leaving little for the family

Siblings provided support and shared experiences. Despite the hardships, Chandra and her siblings found ways to cope and bond:

• Sharing limited resources and space in their small home
• Supporting each other during difficult times
• Creating games and entertainment with limited toys and resources
• Experiencing shared punishments and challenges

These family dynamics taught Chandra resilience, the importance of hard work, and the complexities of human relationships, influencing her perspective on life and family.

5. The struggle for basic necessities and its emotional toll

"Can you imagine what this does to a child's emotions? Only sadness in one's heart. All I know is it was very scary for a child to bear these burdens. Actually, as an adult it is more or less the same."

Constant anxiety about basic needs. The daily struggle for necessities created ongoing stress for Chandra and her family:

• Uncertainty about where the next meal would come from
• Difficulty affording basic hygiene products like toothpaste
• Challenges in obtaining fuel for cooking and lighting
• Embarrassment when having to borrow from neighbors

Emotional impact of poverty. The scarcity of resources took a toll on Chandra's emotional well-being:

• Feelings of fear and insecurity about the future
• Sadness and emotional burden from a young age
• Sense of shame when unable to afford basic items
• Lingering effects of these experiences into adulthood

These emotional challenges shaped Chandra's resilience and determination to improve her circumstances, while also fostering empathy for others facing similar struggles.

6. Cultural traditions and simple pleasures amidst hardship

"We couldn't wait to wake up in the morning to see which color would bloom first. We also had lots of fruit trees. When the fruits were in season it was so much fun climbing up the trees to pick the fruits. The fruits were juicy and sweet."

Nature provided joy and sustenance. Despite the challenges of poverty, Chandra found happiness in the natural world around her:

• A yard filled with colorful flowers, described as "like a rainbow"
• Fruit trees offering both nourishment and entertainment
• The simple pleasure of feeling a cool breeze while rocking in a homemade hammock

Creative play fostered resilience. With limited resources, Chandra and her siblings developed imaginative ways to have fun:

• Using candy wrappers as play money
• Creating a pretend market with items from flowers and fruit trees
• Finding joy in simple gifts, like a compact mirror from America

These experiences taught Chandra to appreciate small joys and find beauty in her surroundings, skills that would serve her well throughout her life.

7. Education in Guyana: Limited opportunities and strict disciplinary practices

"At the end of the year, I would feel pretty bad about it because I try very hard and I would say, 'Why can't I get number 10 in class?' Because in Guyana they go first place, second place, third, fourth, fifth, and then those are the grade that you did very well."

Traditional and strict educational system. Chandra's brief experience with formal schooling in Guyana was characterized by:

• Highly competitive ranking system that publicly acknowledged top performers
• Strict disciplinary practices, including corporal punishment for poor performance
• Limited resources and opportunities for students from poor families

Personal struggles with academic performance. Chandra's short time in school left her feeling inadequate:

• Difficulty keeping up with peers academically
• Feelings of embarrassment and inferiority due to poor performance
• Desire to succeed but lack of support and resources to do so

These experiences with the Guyanese education system shaped Chandra's perception of learning and her own abilities, creating both challenges and motivation for her future educational pursuits.

8. Immigration to the United States: A turning point for new opportunities

At age 22, she boarded a plane and started a new life in a completely different, faraway place: Queens, New York.

Bold decision to seek a better life. At 22, Chandra took a significant risk by immigrating to the United States:

• Left behind her family and familiar surroundings in Guyana
• Arrived in Queens, New York, a vastly different environment from her rural upbringing
• Sought to escape poverty and increase opportunities for herself and her family back home

Start of a new chapter. This move marked the beginning of a series of major transitions in Chandra's life:

• Exposure to a new culture, language, and way of life
• Opportunities for employment and personal growth
• Challenges of adapting to an unfamiliar urban environment

Chandra's decision to immigrate demonstrated her courage and determination to improve her circumstances, setting the stage for future personal and educational development.

9. Challenges of adapting to life in America as an immigrant

"Just imagine if you couldn't read, how hard it would be. And you would want to learn, but it's hard. sometimes people don't think to understand if you don't know how to read how hard it is."

Language and literacy barriers. Chandra faced significant challenges in adapting to life in the United States:

• Difficulty with reading and writing due to limited formal education
• Struggle to complete everyday tasks that require literacy skills
• Frustration with the desire to learn but finding it challenging as an adult

Cultural adjustment and independence. Moving to a new country required Chandra to:

• Navigate unfamiliar social norms and expectations
• Build a new support network without family nearby
• Learn to be self-reliant in a vastly different environment

These challenges, while daunting, also served as motivation for Chandra to continue her personal growth and education in her new home.

10. The pursuit of education as an adult: Overcoming fears and obstacles

"For me, my greatest wish is to learn more each and every day."

Determination to continue learning. Despite the challenges, Chandra's desire for education remained strong:

• Enrolled in an adult education center to improve her English and literacy skills
• Set a goal to earn her GED (General Education Development) certificate
• Pushed herself beyond her comfort zone to engage in new learning experiences

Overcoming personal barriers. Chandra faced both internal and external obstacles in her educational journey:

• Fear of failure and feelings of inadequacy due to past experiences
• Balancing work and study commitments
• Adapting to formal learning environments as an adult

Chandra's commitment to education demonstrates her resilience and the transformative power of lifelong learning.

11. Finding gratitude and personal growth through continued learning

"Because, for me, it's very frustrating when I can't do something, and it's not like I don't want to learn. In my village, I never had a role model who I could look up to. I never heard anyone talk about education and the importance of it."

Shift from fear to gratitude. Through her educational journey, Chandra experienced a transformation in her outlook:

• Developed a deep appreciation for learning opportunities
• Recognized the value of education in improving one's life circumstances
• Found purpose in serving as a role model for younger family members

Personal empowerment through knowledge. Chandra's pursuit of education led to:

• Increased self-confidence and independence
• Ability to better navigate daily life in the United States
• Sense of pride in overcoming past limitations

Chandra's story illustrates the power of perseverance and the importance of access to education, regardless of age or background. Her journey from fear to gratitude serves as an inspiration for others facing similar challenges.

Last updated: August 11, 2024