10.21.2004

Twice within the last few weeks I've had the opportunity to cheat on a test. In both cases, I absolutely wouldn't have been caught. In both cases, I was being tested on something I SHOULD know, but just couldn't remember. In both cases, it would have been so easy to cheat. In both cases I would get a better grade if I cheated. In both cases, I chose not to. I was quite proud of myself. I'd never been in a situation where I both didn't know something and had the opportunity to cheat (The second was a fricking take home test! I could have sat and finished reading the book and no one would have known!). It was a situation where, until you've been in it, you hope you will do the right thing, but you don't know for sure. Although getting back an essay with a 4 out of 10 on the top wasn't the coolest thing ever, I think I would have felt a lot worse if I'd cheated than I did getting a bad grade but one I'd earned. It's good to know that when I'm in a tempting situation like that, I can resist and do the right thing even when it's more difficult. It makes me think that in situations when more is riding on my integrity than just a test grade, I'll be able to stick to my morals and do the honorable thing, whether it be admitting I'm wrong or telling someone else they're wrong, or some other situation.