Best friend won't stop mooching off my work...

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

<p>I didn't really mind at first because he's my best friend and we've always helped each other in the past, but now I feel like he's just taking advantage of my work. We almost always exchange papers when we're required to write essays or answer free response questions so we can check each other's work and make sure neither of us are missing anything, but this past year or so it seems like he's benefiting from this a lot more than I am. He even asks to cheat off my tests sometimes, and because I said yes once, he won't stop asking and I don't know how to say no!</p>

<p>This is a huge problem, not only because it's cheating and unfair, but also because we're both competing for higher grades and rank--and right now, he's beating me. I also can't help but feel suspicious that he's purposefully withholding his help, while I'm over here helping him as much as I can. I feel so bad even considering that as a possibility (he's my best friend after all) but I just can't help but feel paranoid.</p>

<p>I know there are several ways to approach this situation, but a lot of these approaches are easier said than done... Does anyone have advice or consolation? I really don't want to lose my best friend over this. :(</p>

2

<p>Uh, just tell him no. Forget about competition for a minute here pal - if you’re caught cheating, you can get into some serious trouble (not to mention that it’s wrong on a moral level but that’s for another time). </p>

<p>Doesn’t sound like much of a friend.</p>

3

<p>Tell him that you do not want to be accused by your teachers of academic cheating so from now on the both of you are going to do your own work.
A consequence of even being accused of cheating is a ruined reputation at school and in the eyes of teachers you will need to write letters of recommendation for colleges.
BTW, he’s not a very good friend if he is taking advantage of you in any way.
He’s an old friend, not a best friend.</p>

4

<p>Start growing a backbone to be able to tell him no.</p>

5

<p>If he stops being your friend because you tell him no, you never had a best friend to lose.</p>

<p>If he’s really your friend, he’ll respect your decision.</p>