<p>Uh you do realize that if a teacher or a kid from your school reads this and you proceed with a lie, you're royally screwed? Nice job thinking ahead buddy.</p>
<p>Heh, I would probably have stolen the test if I knew I wouldn't get caught. But you're one dumb $%@% to have it in sight during the test. Clearly you haven't "cheated" before.</p>
<p>Keep me updated; this is slightly exciting to me.</p>
<p>Stop making him feel worse. You guys probably cheated yourselves when you were in high school so get off your moral highground.</p>
<p>OP, I think that you should simply talk with your teachers/principals, and tell them how sorry you truly were. Let them know that this is not something you do typically and that you hope your life won't be ruined by this one thing.</p>
<p>Erato, I too cheated once, on a test. Same situation-I had excellent grades, I'd never cheated before, and when my family life started to fall apart, I couldn't stand the idea that my grades were going to suffer, on top of all my other misery. I got caught, of course, because although I was a good student, I was a lousy cheater. Advise? Take full responsibility for a very bad decision. Put yourself at the mercy of the teachers involved. They are human and they will understand that teenagers do dumb things, especially under pressure. They may not write a glowing recommendation, but if you handle this honorably, they may see it as an aberration rather than a fatal character flaw. My teacher was a decent guy. He accepted the apology and forgave the bad decision. And I never did it again-because I still blush when I think about it. It also made me a better person and, I hope, a better parent, because I know a little more about human weakness.</p>
<p>Whoops. I didn't realize that you were applying to prep school, not college. My advice still applies.</p>
<p>So now you have to identify the person who you bought the test from. lol. I can say I have never cheated on a test. I obviously can't say what I would do under your circumstances, because I can't understand your incentives. Though, I can't really think of any incentive that is worth the risk/guilt of cheating on one test...should have taken the F. To be honest, you've lied so much now that it's too late to stop. You'll seem completely immoral either way. Like I said, I don't know what I would do under your circumstances, but the 'right thing to do' went away a few lies ago. Most people will tell you that it's not too late to come clean. Maybe they're right or maybe they're wrong and you should take your chances with your stupid lies. Good luck...</p>
<p>erato-
You have a chance to take the high road. It is the more difficult choice in the short run, but it is the right choice.</p>
<p>Make an appointment with the teacher, principal, and your mom. Tell the complete truth.</p>
<p>There is no other option that will feel right to you, otherwise you wouldn't be asking us to give you advice. You know that what you have done is wrong, so it is time to fess up and begin mending.</p>
<p>To all the other students on here: Cheating is not something everyone does and no one is to blame for cheating, but the cheater. You simply can't blame it on parents, social status, being poor, tired, stressed out, etc. Part of growing up is taking responsibility for your own actions. Don't expect anyone else to bail you out or to get credit for anything unless you earn it by your own deeds.</p>
<p>Just dont rant out anybody to save your ass, never tell on somebody else.</p>
<p>Well be happy you're not getting kicked out of school. If you pulled that stunt here at UVA you would be sent packing. I bet a lot of private schools would put you in the same position.
But yes, why did you bring them to the classroom? Why did you have to cheat on a test for an "easy class"? My high school had a cheating problem and I know none of them were that stupid.</p>
<p>Stop and think. Come clean, it feels better and I don't think you can get away with this. Thoughtfully write an email to your teacher and principal. Spend a good few hours on it. Explain what you did, that you know it's wrong, that it hasn't happened before and won't happen again, that you're taking responsibility for it, and your current situation. Possibly suggest an appropriate punishment, and let them know you're willing to accept the consequences. Everyone makes mistakes, it's just how you handle the aftermath. </p>
<p>Last year I was cracking under pressure too as junior. I cheated on an English quiz (I hadn't cheated on a test before either). It was a stupid 10 point quiz. Didn't get caught while doing it but afterwards I realized I copied someone's wrong answers. I new that my grade wasn't going to be good and what I did was wrong. I just emailed the teacher and asked for a 0 with the premise of not doing it ever again. That's what happened, it was over and done. I didn't cheat again, I worked hard to make up for that 0 and ended up with an A that quarter. I had a great relationship with that teacher before this, and a great relationship with her after. She ended up writing a stellar college rec. for me (according to my counselor who read it). This can still be saved, but the more you lie the more you're going to blow this thing up even further out of proportion. You can't live a lie, or at least live a lie and live with yourself.</p>
<p>troll obviously</p>
<p>LMAO, man relax. Some of these people are blowing this way out of proportion.</p>
<p>"Have fun in Community college" lmao. You are a straight A student, there are THOUSANDS of universities that would except you without recs from those teachers. I mean, it's really mainly the top 50 that this would really even impact, moreso in the top 20 college range. Trust me man, you're going to college.</p>
<p>Secondly, have fun, its high school, they aren't going to expel you for cheating, they probably wont even suspend you, they'll give you like two detentions and you probably won't even show up for those. You are in high school, a ton of people cheat, whether they realize it or not. </p>
<p>Now, onto getting your lie straight, though I think this may have already occured (i didn't read the entire thread), if you go to a relatively large public school just tell them you really don't remember who it was, it was some kid in some period lunch that just gave em to you for a few bucks. Done. They aren't going to force you to remember who you bought a test from, I mean its really not that serious.</p>
<p>Some of these people are bug outs on this board lol. You'll be fine man, people who have juvenile records get accepted into top 50 colleges.</p>
<p>Well, this situation sucks, but you seemed to have learned your lesson... which is very important. It is much better to slip up now than in the future where there will be much more at stake (getting kicked out of college, getting fired and ruining chances at a good job, etc). Now, you really need to be straight up with your principal, teacher(s), etc. Tell them your story. Don't babble on with excuses or whatever, just tell them what you did and why you did it, and most importantly what you learned from it. Be sure to also discuss the state of your recommendations, and just be mature as possible about the whole situation. Although it may look as though your college chances are spiraling down the drain, colleges really look at you as an entire package - perhaps you can write an essay about what you've learned, or bring it up in an interview - these people aren't looking for perfection in all cases, but rather a person who learns and strives for better.</p>
<p>I have sympathy for you... seems like I'm the only one.
Anyone's who's driven for success has cheated. It's hypocritical to deny that.
My advice: sit down and have a chat with your teacher. hopefully, you're a good talker and can wheedle your way out of things.
In the future, if you're going to cheat, be a better cheater. Why would you lay the test where your teacher can see it?</p>
<p>i agree with john...now we havent all taken a test but i know everyone has had the old eye slip up. like they said, own up for it...explain the pressure/stress/expectations/family problems etc.</p>
<p>people understand when they get the whole story</p>
<p>good luck</p>
<p>Thank you, Baseballmom. (Post #168)</p>
<p>Erato, you are fortunate that you are in a public school because, had you been in that prep school you hope to attend, you would be expelled. Despite what others say here, it would also be the end for you (or close to it) if you were caught doing this in college. </p>
<p>Let me echo some other posters: NOT EVERYONE CHEATS.</p>
<p>Do not justify your cheating by saying you were under stress or have family problems or whatever because that will only rationalize your actions so you'll repeat them sometime in the future.</p>
<p>Next, you made a mistake. Even though not everyone cheats, everyone makes mistakes. The fact that you stole a test and then lied about where you got it will be much more serious than the temptation of glancing over at someone's paper, but it will be ultimately up to your principal and teacher to decide how grave the mistake was, whether you should be forgiven, and what punishment you should receive. You are now at the mercy of your principal and teachers, and you must now accept what happens next, whatever it may be. </p>
<p>Please also know tht even if you do not get into this prep school or even if you do not get into your top choice college because the incident is put on your record, your life is not over. You will have many, many chances to redeem yourself. Go out and prove that this incident was an anomaly. Excel at your college, your jobs, and your community life to prove that one mistake, as serious as yours was, does not in any way detract from your abilities.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>I really disagree that not everyone cheats. Perhaps a very, very, very small fraction of people don't cheat on any school work, but I'm pretty much positive that everyone "cheats" at something at some point in their life - it is next to impossible to live your life entirely ethical - especially since morality is often not black and white.</p>
<p>If you've truly been the model student and a great person in the eyes of the teacher and administration, then you really should have just owned up to it immediately. They would have dealt with it in a more lenient manner than they will now after your lie. Everyone makes mistakes, but the key is the own up to them sooner rather than later. Don't even think about going along with your initial story, as they already know you did it.</p>
<p>Look what Erato did was human nature, to do whatever it takes to get the job. That's the mentality today's society has with making money. Its no suprise Business is the hottest new major as opposed to Pre Med, its no suprise not everyone frowns upon rappers for speaking about hustling to make ends meet. If a teacher gave out a test, left the room, the first thought in many peoples mind would be i could look over to my partner right now and get away wtih it. Whether you do it or not is your moral code, but many will still get that thought. From what we've been taught, what Erato did is wrong and I think so too and I also believe Erato should come clean and tell the truth and face the consequences of his or her actions. But at the same time, we cant hate Erato for acting desperately and doing what he thought was necessary to succeed. Politicians display dirty commercials on one another to make them lose, the President's motives are all based on re-election as is the senate and congress, etc etc. People do what they have to do, wrong or right its human nature and we cant hate Erato for that.</p>
<p>wow. I was called on for cheating once when i did not. it was the worse time of my life because the teacher and principal did not believe me. I talked to other teachers and friends and what they told me to do was write a letter asking for forgiveness even though they believed that I didn't do it. It was in an AP class in the beginning of the school year. I decided to write the letter anyways because I did not want my relationship with the teacher ruined because she is known for holding grudges. </p>
<p>so in your case, write the letter! get the guilt off your chest and move on. relieving yourself of the guilt should be the best thing to happen from this very deep hole you've dug for yourself. and most importantly learn your lesson. </p>
<p>these CCers who say they have no sympathy for the OP are too cruel. everyone makes mistakes. all kinds of mistakes. especially when you guys know the OP is under a lot of emotions and stress...what do you guys do? you yell at him like you're God. just give him your comfort, and learn to love.</p>
<p>w t f^ you admitted to something you didn't do?! That makes me mad on your behalf...</p>