Decision Making Model Analysis Paper
             As observed by Kirby and Goodpaster, "Another way to understand that thinking is of a higher order than breathing is to realize that many philosophers since Aristotle have defined humans as 'thinking animals.' In other words, horses and horseflies breathe, but thinking makes us human (3)."
             This paper examines the steps I recently used in making an important decision using the Vigilant Decision Making Model from www.alphanet.org. This model is particularly helpful in making decisions regarding self assessment with career options. The Vigilant Decision-Maker Process contains the following five steps, Appraising the Challenge, Assessing Yourself, Surveying Alternatives, Evaluating Alternatives, and Achieving Commitment. Using this model I will explain each of the steps, and describe how critical thinking impacted a resulting decision that resulted in my deciding that staying with my current company was the best employment option for me.
             The first step in the Vigilant Decision-Making Process is Appraising the Challenge. This main focus of this step is to 1) determine the importance of informed decision making and 2) to acknowledge the consequences of making a "passive decision" (Decision Making Model, 1). The importance of the first step is to recognize the importance of taking an active part in making your career decisions. Problems can occur when you underestimate the task at hand or just assume that things will work out. This leads up to knowing yourself and Assessing Yourself.
             Everyone knows that good career decisions require an unusual degree of self-knowledge (The Vigilant Decision Making Process, 1). Assessing Yourself is the 2nd step of the Vigilant Decision-Making Process. In order to make the right career decision for ourselves we have to understand our own skills, values, strengths, weaknesses, i
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