Flowers Among Thorns: Life Narratives of Outstanding Female Cadets in the Philippines

Military is identified to be masculine out of all other professions. This study aimed to describe the significant stories of outstanding female cadets who graduated as part of their batch’s top ten (10) in a military academy. The present study utilized the life narratives research method to explore the life journey and stories of outstanding female cadets in a male-dominated profession. Interviews either in person or via phone call and video conference were used to gather data from the participants. Findings displayed the significant stories of outstanding female cadets towards success. The present study also dwells on the motivations of outstanding female cadets, as well as the challenges they encountered in entering the military academy. The coping processes of outstanding female cadets in dealing with their challenges also emerged. Future researches may further highlight the experiences of women in other professions identified to be dominated by men.