We all grew up hearing the famous line, “when you cheat, you’re only cheating yourself.” Perhaps at one point, these words hindered all of us from engaging in the act, but as we grew older, there was definitely a bunch that strayed away from these words of wisdom and fell victim to the cheating problem that has taken over so many schools. We were always told that cheating is wrong, but as middle and high school approached and it became more common alongside the growing workload, general attitudes became more relaxed towards it.

The main reason I don’t cheat is because I like to take pride in my work. I enjoy the satisfaction that comes with achievement, knowing that I have put all of my efforts into my work. Getting a good grade on a paper someone else wrote or five points for a test question I copied off the person next to me doesn’t make me feel accomplished; it makes me feel guilty and paranoid. I would rather accept a lower grade with dignity and the knowledge that I gave it my best try than a higher grade because I had to borrow work from someone else. I like that my transcript reflects me, my effort, and my determination.

The truth of the matter is that there is a decent amount of people who cheat because of how much pressure we are under. Some people don’t cheat because they are lazy; they do it because they have so many expectations to meet and not enough time to do so. As a result, they resort to paying someone to write a paper, copying homework answers fifteen minutes before class, or stealing test answers from a classmate. A student could be completely dedicated and diligent but still cheat so that he or she is able to hand in all of their assignments. Sometimes there simply aren’t enough hours of the day.

We all have our eyes on the same prize—we want to succeed, and when it comes to school, it’s clear that the way to do so is through achieving good grades. The strong emphasis our society places on GPAs and test scores often persuades the student population to do whatever it takes in order to meet its expectations. Thus, many individuals turn to cheating so that they can achieve the scores that will guarantee them a fruitful future. I have recognized that cheating is often the product of a student’s aspiration for a prosperous future.

It’s partly a societal problem. Our world places so much pressure on students and young adults. There is so much expected of us and sometimes not enough hours in the day to get it all done. I have seen people cheat not because they were incapable of producing their own work, but because they had so many other obligations to tend to that they did not have the time to study or to finish an assignment.

This ongoing pressure isn’t an excuse to cheat, even if it may make some cases more understandable. Everyone is capable of finding a way to get his or her work done, even though it definitely doesn’t come easy. If you’re busy enough, you may need to sacrifice some hours of sleep or hanging out with your friends or miss some social events in the process. If you’ve done everything you can to study for a test and you still don’t know an answer, resist the temptation to look at the paper of the person next to you—just give it your best guess! You probably know way more than you think you do, and at least you have given it your best shot. Plus, who’s to say that the other person has the right answer? Be an honest student. Give your work your best effort. It’ll come with way less disappointment and way less anxiety about getting caught.

Take ownership of the effort you put into your schoolwork and if it’s not 100% correct, then at least you’re receiving your grade with dignity, which goes way farther than many people realize. You’ll feel way more accomplished by the end of your schooling experience, and it’ll come with the knowledge that you alone have gotten yourself to the point you end up in.