Module 1: Decision Making It’s time for you to make more of the decisions about your future. Do you agree with the sentence below? “If I am going to make more decisions about my future, I need to know the best way to make decisions.” If you agree, check out this module!

Quotable Quote “I have made some bad choices, I have made some so-so choices, and I have made some good choices. The most important thing about all of them is that they are MINE – all of them.” ~Anne Wilson Schaef That’s how it is with everyone. You make some good decisions and you make some bad decisions.

YOU should be involved in your DECISION-MAKING! First, you better be sure you know what is meant by a “DECISION” and how it is different from making choices. A decision is a process. There are a lot of steps that have to happen before everything is finished. One of the steps in making a decision is making a choice. – A choice is when you select something you want or prefer.

The Ice Cream Decision You go to the mall and pass by an ice cream store. Your favorite ice cream is Fudge Brownie, but you know they don’t always have that. When you look for it, you don’t see any Fudge Brownie ice cream. : ( You think you want something like Fudge Brownie – maybe Rocky Road?

The Ice Cream Decision (continued) You look at the sign about the counter to see how much a double-scoop in a waffle cone costs. After checking your money, you figure you can’t afford a double-scoop in a cone but could afford a single-scoop in a cone or a double-dip in a cup. When asked what you want, you order a single- scoop of Pralines and Cream in a waffle cone. It’s okay to change your mind, isn’t it?

You made some choices when you were getting the ice cream, right? You checked out which ice cream the store had. You learned what the price of the double-scoop cone was. You figured out how much money you had.

What would have happened if… You chose to order Fudge Brownie even though they didn’t have it? You ordered a double- scoop in a waffle cone and couldn’t pay for it so you had to ask the person at the counter to put one scoop back? The person taking your order might have thought you just came in from another planet! The person taking your order might think you are a little strange!

Part of making decisions if choosing things you like and want. Another part of making decisions is getting all the information you need to make those choices. Do you know what the last part of making a decision is?

Just do it! Making a decision means: 1.Getting information 2.Making choices. 3.Figuring out consequences. 4.Acting on your decision. You do this all the time, don’t you? Sometimes it works out, other times, not so much. You probably make decisions all the time without thinking about how you’re doing it!

Some decisions you may have made today… What to wear What to have for breakfast What kind of music you listened to on your way to campus DO IT! – A tool for decision making. D - Define your problem. O - Outline your problem. I - Identify the outcome of each option. T - Take action. ! - Get excited!!

Ouch! My Stomach! You wake up one night and your stomach is hurting – REALLY hurting. Once you’re at the hospital, a doctor checks you out and says your appendix is swollen and inflamed. He says, “Do you want to have your appendix taken out?” “How should I know?” you think. “I don’t even know what one is or does!

So what do you do? Define your problem. Your appendix is swollen and inflamed. Outline your options. Identify outcomes. Take action. ! Get Excited Have your appendix removed or keep it. Keeping your appendix could make you even more sick. Taking out your appendix could make you feel better. You decide to have your appendix taken out. You’re looking forward to feeling better!