A Lesson on Cheating to be Remembered for a Lifetime...

One time in San Francisco, a former classmate remarked. "Yan si Faith... Ayaw mag pa kopya." Those were not the exact words but the message was Faith would not allow me to copy during exams. 

Well... I was caught cheating once in high school. It was very embarrassing but... it was a lesson that made me understand the detriment of dishonesty. PDAF would not have happened if the people involved learned what I learnt early about dishonesty. It is terribly shameful and it has consequences.

Screenshot of HCHS  website.

I went to Hope Christian High School in Sta. Cruz, Manila. We had English subjects in the morning and Chinese in the afternoon. It is a Christian school and we had a subject called Character Education. 

English was great! Without studying, I could get a perfect score just listening to the lecture. For Chinese class, it was an entirely different story. I could understand the lecture but answering in Chinese characters was a struggle.

I had this POPULAR TEACHER who was loved by most students. In class, she shared to us a technique of cheating where she used her foot to turn the pages of the notebook. At a young age, my pick up of things was fast. I did not study for a Chinese exam and I did just that. Turned the pages of my notes using my foot during an exam. And I got caught. My BEST TEACHER asked me to stay after class. I call her my BEST TEACHER because besides academics, she taught me character. 

I was not too worried about  it. If I got a failing mark for that exam, I would study for the next exam to get a perfect score and average a passing mark. Besides... It was Chinese class.  I was not running for honor roll.

BEST TEACHER started by telling me that she knew I was running for honors in English. She then explained that if I get a demerit for cheating in Chinese, there was no way I would be an honor student for English. I was not prepared to  hear what I just heard. I was mortified... That was the first time academic excellence was explained to me. I felt like crying. It was my last year in high school. I already got first place in English and Math competition.  Closing the year being first honor in my section was the final goal. She knew it affected me. But she wanted me to learn the lesson on honesty. If I give my word that I will not do it again, she was to just give me a warning. A demerit would not appear on record. And I gave my word.

That word was to apply for the next 34 years of my life. In matters of ethics, my friends know where I stand. They know if I would agree or not agree to a situation on the basis of whether it is based on integrity or not. In business, I would choose to lose a customer who would insist on unauthorized discounts than violate corporate rules/policies.

"The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army or in an office."
                                                                                ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

I am not proud that I cheated. What I want to impart is that I learned the lesson well. As mentors, whether as parents, educators, church or corporate leaders, the lesson on honesty and integrity should be taught well.  I googled my alma mater's website to get a screenshot for this post. Reading the vision and mission, I have to smile and say Amen. May the glory be unto God. ;)

VISION

Hope Christian High School seeks to inspire her reflective learning community, to acknowledge God's love, obey God's law, and develop the self, and contribute to society.

MISSION

Hope Christian High School is committed to continually provide quality Christian education relevant to the changes and challenges of the times for the glory of God.