Exploring Experiences of Academic Resilience in Young Indian Adults Developed Through the Stories of Their Grandparents

Abstract

In South Africa, grandparents are honoured members of their families; sharing stories, culture and rituals that they have experienced. In this light, grandparents play a pivotal role as the custodians of tradition to ensure that customs and culture are passed down to younger generations. In addition, multigenerational support provides emotional and practical encouragement and fosters a sense of moral guidance, reinforcing values and culture within communities. Within the South African Indian community, grandparents are revered figures who embody wisdom, tradition and resilience. Resilience has been broadly described as the ability for an individual to positively adapt in the face of adversity. Resilience research is grounded in the belief of positive functioning which aims to identify protective factors that facilitate adaptive responses to individual challenges. However, limited research that is specific to the Indian community in South Africa exists; particularly in regard to young adults’ perceptions and experiences of academic resilience and the role of their grandparents. This study sought to explore the experiences of ten young Indian adults in South Africa through in- depth interviews. By applying content analysis, this study sought to investigate how experiences shared by their grandparents have shaped participants’ academic resilience. The key findings of this study highlighted the meaningful role of intergenerational transmission of resilience through the values, skills and coping mechanisms learned through grandparents’ lived experiences. The exploration of the intersection of cultural heritage, family dynamics and educational pursuits, contributes to a deeper understanding of academic resilience within the South African Indian community and highlights the relevance of intergenerational wisdom in promoting resilience in the face of adversity.