DECISIONS DECISIONS

Rubi Alonso

Tina Reyes

AGENDA Introduction Physical Emotional Consideration Questions

INTRODUCTION Michael and Tamara have been dating for nine

months. They are both 20 years-old and attend the University of Texas at El Paso as freshmen. Tamara is interested in entering into the Nursing Program and Michael is majoring in business management. Tamara and Michael both work part-time at Peter Piper Pizza. Michael and Tamara decide to get engaged and they announced it to their parents whom were not very please with the news. This created tension between Michael and Tamara causing an argument, but after they both cooled down and have make-up sex without protection they decided to say engaged. However four days later Tamara found out she was pregnant. Know we will explore the Physical, Emotional, and Consideration decisions Michael and Tamara will be facing.

PHYSICAL Some questions that Michael and

Tamara had to asked themselves are: How will the pregnancy affect them

financially? How will it affect their ongoing

education? How will it affect their relationship? How will their parents react to the news

of the pregnancy?

SOLUTION Tamara and Michael will have to sit down and

develop a budget based on their income and see what financial changes will need to be done in order to stay in school and provide for a baby.

Tamara and Michael will have to do a pros and cons list to see if both should stay in school or if one of them should quit school and work fulltime while the other one person finishes their education.

Tamara and Michael need to sit down and evaluate their relationship and see if this pregnancy is a choice they can both agree on.

Tamara and Michael need to sit down with both sets of parents to see if they are going to be supportive of the pregnancy and help the couple finish education.

POSSIBLE ARGUMENT Couple might break-up and not work

together to deal with the pregnancy. The parents might not want to be

supportive of the couple or pregnancy. Their jobs at Peter Piper Pizza might not

provide enough income.

RESPONSE Tamara and Michael must establish an

open communication if they are going to be able to deal with the pregnancy. The couple needs to work together.

ANTICIPATION OF EVENTS Tamara and Michael might drop out of

school. Tamara might lose her job because of

the pregnancy. The parents might interfere and break-

up the couple.

JUSTIFICATION/ RISK Tamara and Michael need to talk about

everything the pregnancy affects in order for the relationship to succeed. Both of them need to evaluate their lives and how this affects their future

The couple breaks-up. Both Tamara and Michael drop out of

school. Lose support from their parents.

EMOTIONAL Tamara and Michael have decided to abort the fetus. One

of their main reasons for choosing this course of action, abortion, is because they are still both in school and do not make enough money to support a child yet. Also, Michael and Tamara do not feel that they would be able to count on their parents’ support. Tamara and Michael visit their regular medical doctor and get his advice about aborting the fetus. Their medical doctor recommends that they proceed with caution and recommended a doctor to visit and talk about their options with who performs such operations. Before Tamara and Michael visit the specialist about their options, Tamara’s best friend, Jessica, tries to convince her not to consider aborting the fetus. Jessica argues that aborting the fetus would be like killing a human life. Michael enters the conversation and disagrees with Jessica about aborting the fetus.

QUESTIONS1. Has Tamara evaluated how having an

abortion will affect her emotionally and physically for the rest of her life?

2. Should Tamara and Michael consider adoption?

3. Should Jessica be making Tamara and Michael feel guilty about their decision?

SOLUTION Tamara needs to get all the questions that she

will need to address to the specialist about the abortion. She needs to get a clear understanding on how the abortion will leave her emotionally and what affects will the abortion leave on her body.

Tamara and Michael should visit local programs that deal with open or closed adoptions. There are many couples would love to have this child in their lives.

Jessica needs to be supportive of her friends’ decision. She can offer alternative choices for them to consider without being judgmental.

POSSIBLE ARGUMENT Tamara and Michael decide not to abort

the baby/ fetus, Tamara and Michael cannot come to an

agreement about adoption. Jessica needs to step back and let the

couple make their own decision. She needs to provide emotional support.

RESPONSE The couple needs to get information

about all the available options and programs on abortion and adoption. This way the decision that is made by the couple is not one that affects them for the rest of their lives.

ANTICIPATION OF EVENTS Tamara might have a miscarriage Tamara and Michael change their mind

about the abortion and adoption

JUSTIFICATION/RISK Tamara and Michael need to evaluate all their

options and make the choice that best suits each of them and will not have negative repo cautions on their lives. In order to make their relationship work, they need to have open communication and a good education.

Tamara might regret having the abortion and end up hating Michael for pressuring her to make that choice.

The abortion might cause permanent damaged to her uterus causing Tamara not to be able to conceive in the future.

Tamara and Michael might have reservation about the abortion and change their mind.

CONSIDERATION Before Tamara and Michael visit the specialist,

Tamara is offered her the night manager position at Peter Piper Pizza. Tamara is not sure if she should take the position because of everything that is going on in her life at the moment. Her mother and Michael encourage her to take the night manager position. However, her best friend, Jessica, advises her not to take it because it might cause her too much stress. If she decides to take the night manager’s position, she will make three dollars more an hour. However, she will also be responsible for overseeing ten employees and their schedules.

QUESTIONS1. Should Tamara become a manager for

Peter Piper Pizza?2. Will it affect her education?3. How will the stress of being a manager

affect her pregnancy and relationship? 

SOLUTION The manager position is ill timed. If Tamara

becomes a manager it will only add to her stress. Tamara needs to consider her education and all her choices. Tamara is not only a student but also a young mother facing a decision on her pregnancy.

Michael suggested to Tamara that they should approach management and ask them if they would consider him for the night manager position. Michael feels that at this time the position would be better suited for him. By Michael becoming the night manager it would greatly help their financial situation.

POSSIBLE ARGUMENT Management at Peter Piper Pizza might

not want to offer Michael the manager position. They might feel that Michael is not as qualified as Tamara. Tamara interpersonal skills are at a higher level than Michael’s.

RESPONSE Michael needs to prepare a presentation

to prove to management that he would be perfect for the management position. Michael is an intelligent well rounded individual.

ANTICIPATION OF EVENTS She will be forced to accept the

manager position because of her pregnancy.

It will affect her education in the long run.

Michael gets the management position. 

JUSTIFICATION/ RISK By not taking the manager position, in the long run

Tamara’s can complete her education which will provide her with better financial stability.

Michael not only gets the night manager position but is later offered his own store to manage with a significant raise in pay.

The risk associate with Tamara refusing the manager position is that Peter Piper Pizza may let her go. Also Michael and her mother might get upset and not agree with her decision.

Michael might feel that Tamara is not taking their relationship seriously and might leave her.

Michael’s new position causes him to drop out of school and not finish his education. Michael resents Tamara for this and breaks up with her.

QUESTIONS