Who really benefits from cheating?

Chloe DirectorStaff WriterCheating is wrong. There is no question about it. We have always been taught that cheating doesn’t pay, that cheaters get caught and that cheaters are failures at life. Unfortunately, I’m not so sure about that last part anymore.In movies, high-school cheaters are usually portrayed as grungy, lazy, low-lifes with little ambition who need to cop a couple good answers from Ivy League Ivan in order to make it out of the tenth grade. But recently — more and more — it isn’t the lazy, apathetic, failing student who cheats. In fact, according to gradebook.org, a whopping 80% of high-achieving high-school students admit to cheating. While disappointing, it’s not all that surprising. Students today — especially at Samo — deal with constant testing, overloaded schedules, multiple AP classes, cutthroat sports and aggressively competitive extracurricular activities, all in the interest of getting into college. Under this kind of intense pressure, many are tempted to take the easy way out. Why not copy someone else’s homework, have your older brother write your paper, or write the answers to the chem test on your palm?There’s so much competition to get into college it isn’t fair no matter what you do. So, is cheating justified?No! Cheating is not justified. It's simply not fair. Cheating is an injustice to everyone else. But if smart kids are cheating, then are cheaters winners or losers? Cheaters are losers, even if they look like winners. Why? I know it sounds corny, but if you cheat you won’t feel good about yourself, and that’s what ultimately matters. Self-knowledge and authenticity help you reach your full potential. Isn't that what we should be striving towards? Besides, cheating isn't always going to work out, not for you or even Ivy League Ivan. So go on-- spread the knowledge, read your book, write your essay, but don't take credit for this one.cdirector@thesamohi.com