102 Unit 2 Setting and Reaching Life Goals
Courses you fi nd interesting now may lead you
to consider careers in a related fi eld. The school-
work that you do will affect the opportunities that
you have after you graduate from high school for
further schooling or work training. Chapter 5 will
explore these decisions in depth.
In addition, the work habits that you develop
now can carry over into your work life. If you learn
now to manage your time effectively, you will
be able to apply that skill on the job. If you learn
now to discipline yourself to focus on your school-
work, you will have that discipline when you have
a job.
Effects of Decisions on Society
The decisions that you make affect society as
a whole. Drivers who obey traffi c laws help keep
self-esteem, ethical personal standards, and
knowing your values and goals can help you stick
with this decision and make personal choices that
promote health and wellness in your life.
Effects of Decisions on Family
and Interpersonal Relationships
Making good decisions in relationships is a
skill that will be used throughout your life. As
a teen, you make decisions every day that affect
your relationships with friends, family, teachers,
classmates, and perhaps a boss and coworkers
on a job. These decisions may have immediate
consequences as well as long-term consequences
(Figure 4.16).
People treat fairly others who are fair to
them. They learn they can count on those who
are responsible or who help them when they feel
down. They trust those who do not spread rumors
or pass on conversations said to them in confi -
dence. Because relationships have such a huge
impact on quality of life, several chapters in this
text are devoted to these topics. Some of the areas
of decision making include choices related to dat-
ing, marriage, and parenting.
Effects of Decisions on Future
Employment
A major developmental task of the adolescent
years is to begin preparing for a career. It may
be diffi cult to see the connection between school
today and an unknown working life in the future,
but that connection is real. The schoolwork you
do now affects the career options you might have.
How could learning about food and nutrition,
exercise, and the effects of tobacco, alcohol, and
other drugs help people make good decisions?
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Figure 4.16 Why is it important to apply decision-
making skills to choices in your relationships? What
impact could these decisions have on your success
in reaching your life goals?
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