As already described in the preliminary above,

Aristotle described the human person as an “rational

animal” which only mean that we humans are the only
beings capable of reasoning or thinking.

This concept was reiterated by the modern thinker,

Rene Descartes, in his famous “cogito ergo sum” or
“I think therefore I exist” which he meant that we
human beings, whether we liked it or not, whether we
choose it or not, whether we doubt it or not, we
think.
 Strategic analysis refers to a system or method
that requires deliberate, abstract, and effortful
thinking that breaks down a complex problem
into parts.

Deliberate thinking employs a detailed examination of

a problem to come up with a solution. This involves
looking at the context of the problem. The amount
of time and resources are the primary factors in
strategic analysis.
 Strategic analysis is relevant in addressing your
personal issues as a student. It means that you can
also analyze your own strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats in order to make creative
strategies or solutions in facing life challenges.

In practice, a personal SWOT (Strengths,

Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threat/s) will help
you understand your personal issues and goals as
well as construct effective ways in dealing with both.
 Intuitive thinking is “quick and ready insight” (Webster’s
New Collegiate Dictionary). It is another approach to
decision-making. This is the ability to understand something
instinctively without the need for conscious reasoning.

Sometimes, it is referred to as gut feeling, sixth sense, inner

sense, instinct, inner voice, spiritual guide, etc. Intuitive
thinking is affected by how one feels and define a thing or
event.
 Intuitive decision-making is far more than using common
sense because it involves additional sensors to perceive and
get aware of the information from outside.

In dealing with everyday life issues and situations, we are

called to make immediate decisions based on our ‘gut’
feelings and prior knowledge and experiences.

This type of decision-making is evident in various situations: a

doctor assessing an emergency case; a teacher determining
the reason for a child’s inattentiveness in class; a buyer
examining which vegetable to buy; and a firefighter trying to
rescue a fire victim.
Each person is engaged in a variety of networks associated
with his or her multiple roles and interests in the community.
According to Arzadon et.al. (2017), these networks can be,
among others, political, economic, and sociocultural.

Your political networks are composed of relations with

government officials, student government, and community
leaders, among others.
 The economic networks you belong to cover the
manufacturers, agents, and sellers of the goods you consume
such as those in stores, groceries, markets, and malls as well
as money lenders.

Your sociocultural or social networks are those belonging

to your dance troupe, choir, reading club, band, arts
club, or theater company.
 Kinship ties, neighborhood associations, friendship clubs,
and veterans’ associations also belong to the social network
wherein people constantly engage in close communication
and interaction through visits, phone calls, text messages,
and activities of common interest.

Social networks appear as clusters and support groups of

people who share similar interests, backgrounds, and real-
life connections. They are avenues for meeting new
friends, reuniting with old and lost friends, exchanging gifts
and favors, and developing cooperation.
 The community is home to this web of interrelations and
interconnections of people and institutions. Community
refers to a particular geographic location with people
living under the same set of laws and recognizing common
leaders. Studies of community linkages deal usually with
who was seen interacting with whom.
 Another concept in the study of social ties is the center of
influence. This is the person to whom people gravitate around.
This person who can give favors, can command and make
things happen.

Examples of center of influence are the mayor, judge,

barangay captain, school principal, and university president,
among others. His or her influence transcends the boundaries
of social networks and thus reaches other kinds of networks.
A center of influence has many people and institutions
attached to him or her, thereby creating a substantial
influence in the community.