I am really screwed

<p>I didn't think things could get any worse but they have. I was told today that the remanining newspaper staff is planning on writing an article about the oust of the entertainmnet editor (obviously me) Even if they do not mention my name, it is so easy to figure out who this is. I am afraid there will be no escaping this ever. One strike and I'm out for my future.</p>

<p>
[quote]
I didn't think things could get any worse but they have. I was told today that the remanining newspaper staff is planning on writing an article about the oust of the entertainmnet editor (obviously me) Even if they do not mention my name, it is so easy to figure out who this is. I am afraid there will be no escaping this ever. One strike and I'm out for my future.

[/quote]

ummm i'd imagine that you could legally stop this from happening? or, if not, talk to the principal since he can censor the paper. they really don't have any business publishing this story about you.</p>

<p>NHS is meaningless. Seriously, everyone is in NHS; it is so commonplace that it's significance has been reduced to that of Who's Who or the school's honor roll. I know of plenty of people that got into top 20 colleges without being in NHS.
As for newspaper, I think you should write an apology. The lack of newspaper involvement your senior year shouldn't hurt your chances at Cornell so long as your involved in other EC's. If newspaper is your only meaningful EC, then you probably wouldn't have gotten into Cornell anyways.
Cheer up. You've got so much left ahead of you and you will end up at a good college if your grades remain constant.<br>
Hopefully, this whole fiasco doesn't show up anywhere on your counselor's report or transcript so that you can just leave it out. If it does show up, then I guess you just have to tell the truth to the colleges and show how you have matured from experience. Other than that that's all you can do. Worrying about it is suffering before anything has happened.</p>

<p>Look, you screwed up. It's over and done with. At least you're young. Basically, nothing you do when you're in high school (barring, say, felonies or addiction) is going to ruin your life... This included. This too shall pass.</p>

<p>A lot of people have good suggestions here... Journalistic ethics courses sound like a great idea... Best thing you can do is face the music. Learn what you can about the extents of what plagiarism is, what defines it, and be glad that you learned that lesson early. I know several people in academia that have screwed up and plagiarized... The consequences are harsh. People fail courses. People are humiliated. I don't know of any of them whose futures were ruined by it. Usually, they failed a class.</p>

<p>I don't know that I agree with your lawyer friend, particularly if it's widely known. If you handle it well, publicly say that yeah, you screwed up and you understand what you did, then it'll blow over a lot better, and you'll end up looking like someone who made a stupid mistake and learned from it rather than someone who made a stupid mistake and tried to talk their way out of the consequences of it, or covered it up.</p>

<p>If I were in your situation, I would make appointments to talk with my guidance counselor, my principal, and my newspaper editor. I would offer them each formally written apologies. I would do research and enroll in a journalistic ethics course. I would offer to write an editorial for the paper about what exactly plagiarism is, and how it's a ridiculously easy trap to fall into... A lot of people don't know that even restating the <em>ideas</em> of another person, even in different words, without citation, is plagiarism... and a lot of college students get screwed that way. If you can teach them now, when they're in high school, both about how <em>you</em> screwed up and how <em>they</em> can avoid doing so in the future, you'll be helping other people and facing a tough situation without running away. Folks will talk, but I think they'll end up respecting you <em>far</em> more if you face things and act strong and mature and responsible than if you turn tail and run. (If folks respect you, they'll be far more likely to vouch for you when it comes time for college apps, too.)</p>

<p>It's gonna take guts, but you can't hide from this one. Tough lesson to learn at a young age, but it'll definitely be one of those experiences that makes you a stronger person.</p>

<p>Good luck to you.</p>

<p>Read an article referred to in another thread that reminded me of this situation. </p>

<p>Jay</a> Mathews - Ten Stupid Ways to Ruin Your College Application - washingtonpost.com</p>

<p>Ten Stupid Ways to Ruin Your College Application</p>

<h1>5 definitely is relevant in this case.</h1>

<p>oh wow... I don't really have any good advice, but the best of luck to you</p>