Introduction

The following essay is on critical thinking. It describes a time in life when I had to
make a critical decision. It describes the thought process in terms of how I thought,
planned, and took into consideration the issues at hand before making that decision. It
describes the lessons learnt from that experience in regards to the personal values that
I uphold and what I have changed about myself because of that experience.

The problem

After finishing high school, I was very excited and I joined my friends in
celebration for finishing one of the toughest parts of school life. I would move from one
binge to another drinking and partying all night. During this time, I was less cautious of
my safety and even if parents tried to put me into perspective, I would hear none of it. I
wanted to prove that I was free and that I have the freedom. As I partied, I loosened my
moral standing and values and started to sleep with boys even without protection. After
some time I realized that I was pregnant, and I could not tell who was the child’s father.
Having been brought up by pious parents, I knew they would not condone my
pregnancy especially because it would tarnish their names and reputation. I was
terrified and I did not know who to share my predicaments with. I was sixteen, pregnant
and I new that pregnancy would mean that I have to postpone my studies to take care
of the child first. My parents on the other hand would be very angry with me and they
would have refused to support me. I was not sure of the father of the child. I was in a
dilemma on what kind of choice to make.

Describe the thought process

With that problem at hand, I had to make a critical decision that would affect me
for the rest of my life. I had to critically think on the available choices and pick the best
decision from those choices. The first choice that I had and seemed to be the best was
to terminate the pregnancy. The termination of pregnancy would have to be a secretive
affair. All I needed was to contact a doctor, and request him to perform the operation.
However, I needed at least $2000 for the operation to be done procedurally without any
side effects. I did not have such amount of money, but I knew I could get it from my
parents and friends. However, I was uneasy of the consequences; I doubted the safety
of pregnancy termination procedures and the chances of my ability to conceive again
after a willful termination of pregnancy. Again, my conscience would haunt me for killing
human life.
Having come from a strict and religious family that believed that life starts at
conception, I was aware that my actions would be equated to murder, which was a
bigger crime, compared to premarital pregnancy. The thought of what it meant to have
a child at the age of sixteen, my friends would certainly make fun of me, and they would
criticize me saying that I am foolish for becoming pregnant with an unknown and
uncommitted person, yet there are many family planning and safety precautions to
prevent unplanned pregnancy.
I was torn between following my convictions that abortion was wrong or to
please my friends and myself by terminating the pregnancy at the expense of my
conscience. I knew that it was far easier to terminate the pregnancy but I was aware
that it would haunt my conscience for the rest of my life. I therefore preferred to take full
responsibility of my actions by allowing the pregnancy to come to full term. I knew it was

a hard decision. My parents would not be happy with me. I would be the object of
ridicule from my friends. However, I chose to have peace of mind and do what I
believed was right. The infant had no mistake. The mistakes were mine, I had to bear
the full responsibility for poor decisions, and choices that I had made previously that
were now affecting me negatively.

Results

My parents were very furious with me when I disclosed my pregnancy to them,
my dad refused to talk to me for two weeks. While my mother quite understood and
empathized with me, my father had no empathy and expressed his disappointment. I
was prepared for such a reaction and therefore I did not feel as if it was too much. In
fact, I thought that he would evict me from home for falling pregnant. After his anger
cooled down we discussed the issue, he promised to support the child and me, and that
he would still pay my school fees. He was happy that I chose to carry the pregnancy to
full term. My friends were equally disappointed with my pregnancy and some of the
eschewed me while others made me feel ashamed. They however appreciated the fact
that I was bold enough to make such a decision as many of them would not make such
a decision. I did not have to apply for postponement of my studies as I had already
finished high school and I was awaiting the results and admission to the university. By
the time I was receiving the admission, I had already delivered a beautiful baby girl. I
was very excited, and from the facial features of the child, I could tell who the father of
the child was. It was Johnson one of my friends. He was equally excited, even though
he could not take of the child, as he was still a student and did not have any meaningful
income. He accepted paternal responsibility of the child. Currently we are engaged and

we hope to get married once we are through with our studies. Even though it was a
tough decision to carry the pregnancy to full term, I am excited that it was the right
decision.

What I learnt in the process

The following are some of the lessons that I learnt during that process. I learnt
the value of evaluating any action or anything that I want to do and determine its
consequences in advance. Had I evaluated and analyzed the consequences that
reveling, partying, and enjoying life without thinking would have on me, I would have
made a different decision and I may not have faced the consequences, which I
experienced. I have also learnt to accept mistakes when they happen. Rather than try
to conceal the mistake that happened, it is imperative to accept that the mistake
happened and face the mistake. Two wrongs do not make a right, and if you have done
something wrong, you do not have to make a wrong decision. I have also learnt to make
decisions based on my conscience and not on the opinions of other people. Had I
consulted my friends I would not have carried the pregnancy to full term and my
conscience would have haunted me, as I would be aware that I made the wrong
decision to please my friends.

What has changed about me

Since that time, I have to think critically of every decision that I am about to take.
I must think about its consequences on me and other people around me. I have to take
advice from people who are experienced rather than from friends and other peers who
do not have experience. Had I listened to my parents’ warning, I am sure that I would
not have become pregnant. I have learnt to take full responsibility for my actions without

blaming anyone for the consequences of the actions. This enhances my ability to think
critically as I have to evaluate whether what I am planning to do will have any effect on
me or those close to me, I have to assess whether my actions will affect them positively
or negatively. I have also become good in decision-making as I can nowadays make
independent and bold decisions than I used to make because of my previous
experience. I have realized that a good decision does not have to win the support of
every person. A good decision is the decision that will have long-term positive effects on
those involved in the decisions.

Conclusion

Critical thinking is imperative in decision-making as it opens the mind to see the
available solutions to particular problem. Critical thinking is imperative in making
informed decisions.