A NARRATOLOGICAL INQUIRY ON THE JOURNEY OF REGISTERED GUIDANCE COUNSELORS: CAREER PATH DEVELOPMENT IN FOCUS

The purpose of this qualitative study accounts the stories of the Registered Guidance Counselors focusing on their career path development. A qualitative-narratological approach was utilized to five (5) Registered Guidance Counselors from three different schools in the Department of Education- Division of Tagum City, selected through purposive sampling. During the in-depth interview, the study utilized questionnaire that has been thoroughly checked and validated by internal and external validators. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis, guided by Tiedemann and O’Hara’s theory of career development, Super’s Life-Span, Life-Space Theory, and Social Cognitive Career Theory. Results revealed that while RGCs draw strong personal fulfillment from serving students and addressing mental health concerns, they experience limited professional advancement, salary stagnation, and emotional strain in the workplace. Despite these constraints, participants demonstrated resilience and a persistent commitment to their advocacy of student well-being, underscoring that passion and purpose serve as key motivating factors. Their narratives indicate a need for institutional reforms—particularly in establishing structured career pathways, ensuring equitable compensation, and providing ample professional development opportunities. These findings suggest that strengthening government support, refining institutional policies, and enhancing recognition of RGCs’ roles can significantly uplift the profession. Future research may further investigate how these reforms influence the long-term retention, growth, and well-being of school counselors within and beyond the region of Davao del Norte. KEYWORDS: Career Path Development, Career Progression, Narratological Inquiry, Career Stagnation, Guidance Counselor Iii Qualitative Research, Registered Guidance, Counselors, Thematic Analysis, Davao Del Norte.