This is the time of year when most children, if not all, are preparing and appearing for their final exams. The pressure and stress can be overwhelming, and not everyone is able to cope with it. While some students maintain their integrity throughout the examination period, others may consider opting to unfair methods such as cheating.

For those who feel tempted to cheat, it is important to recognise the gravity of the situation and resist the urge to engage in dishonest behaviour. Being honest with ourselves and performing our level best in exams is very important for our personal growth and development.

When we cheat or cut corners, we may get temporary gains, but in reality, we are not truly learning or growing. But by being honest with whatever skills, abilities and potentials we have, we can achieve true success and confidence.

When we perform our best without worrying about the end result, we may experience several ups and downs during the course, this enables us to develop a growth mindset and foster a sense of responsibility and accountability to our actions. So, being honest with ourselves and putting in our best effort in exams helps us become better individuals and prepares us for the challenges we may face in the future.

Cheating in exams can have severe long-term consequences that can change our future in unexpected ways. When we cheat, we are not only undermining our personal growth and development, but we are also creating a false image of ourselves in front of others. We may achieve temporary success, but we are not truly learning the skills that we have given the exams of.

Moreover, cheating damages our self-esteem and creates a sense of guilt and shame that can haunt us for years. It is important to accept who we are and what our abilities are, and strive to improve them honestly.

Apart from that, cheating in exams is extremely unfair to those who have worked hard to achieve their goals. When we cheat, we take the credit of all those who worked hard to earn a position or success. This is why honesty and integrity are essential values that we must uphold in all aspects of our lives, including exams.

I still remember when I was in class VI, I prepared for my exams, but at some point, I thought let me have a little sneak peek into macro notes to answer the questions coming in the exams. And yes, I did; I was so confident that I wouldn’t get caught cheating on my exam. I spent the night memorising the answers and had even gone to the extent of writing them on a small piece of paper. It was a desperate attempt to improve my grades, and I was convinced that I will come out successful.

So, on the day of that exam, I entered the classroom, felt confident, knowing that I had the answers to all the questions. I took my seat and started doing the paper while hiding that little piece of paper under my hand. I was so engrossed in copying that I didn’t realise someone was standing behind me.

Suddenly, I felt a presence, and I turned around to find my teacher staring down at me with a disappointed look. I knew I had been caught, and I could feel my heart sinking. I tried to play it cool, but my teacher wasn’t fooled. She asked me to stand up and show her the piece of paper.

I opened my hand, my teacher’s disappointment turned into anger, and she scolded me in front of the whole class. I felt embarrassed as my classmates stared at me with judging eyes. I knew I had let down everyone, especially myself. My exam was cancelled and I was sent home.

I felt ashamed of my actions. I realised that cheating wasn’t the right way to achieve goals, and it only led to temporary gains. That incident shook me to the core. I had to work hard to regain the trust of my teachers and classmates and improve my academic performance.

I learned that cheating not only affected my grades, but also my character. The incident changed me for the better, and I became more focused and determined to improve my grades. That day, I made a promise to myself that I would never cheat again and would work hard to achieve my goals through honest means. It took a long time to regain the trust of my teachers and classmates.

My dear friends, honesty and integrity are critical values that we must uphold in all aspects of our lives, especially when it comes to exams. Cheating may provide temporary success, but it ultimately undermines our personal growth and development. Therefore, it is important to be honest in all areas of our lives and strive to achieve success through honest means.

Published in Dawn, Young World, May 6th, 2023