Chapter 6: Reinterpreting Early-Career Teacher Identity Tensions as the Emerging Awareness of Existential Freedom

This phenomenological inquiry explores how moments of doubt and professional tension can prompt early-career teachers to question not only the stability of their teaching identity but also their desire to remain in the teaching profession. In light of these findings, the philosophy of Jean-Paul Sartre is employed to reinterpret the construct of early-career teacher identity tensions, framing these tensions as opportunities for early-career teachers to become increasingly aware of the existential freedom that they possess.