Evaluating Your Options and Designing a Course of Action

Evaluating Options

Now that you have done some research, you are ready to

1. Identify and write down the pros and cons of each alternative.
2. Identify and write down your values and needs that are satisfied by each option.
3. Identify and write down the risks involved with each alternative.
4. Project the likely consequences of selecting each alternative.
5. Discuss your findings with a trusted friend, family member, or professional counselor. Discussing your thoughts with someone else helps you better evaluate your decision-making and thought processes. In addition, it can provide you with some valuable feedback. Be aware that this may be a difficult process. You may need to let your defenses down to really hear the feedback you are getting. Remember that you have the final say about your life choices.

Taking Action

Having chosen the career that most interests you, you can now begin developing and implementing a plan of action. This should be a written plan.

1. List the actions you need to take to begin working in your chosen career.
2. What additional training or education do you need?
3. What information or resources do you need at each step of the plan?
4. What obstacles (e.g., low grade point average, no money for school) do you face? How can you overcome them?