Liam stared at his laptop screen, the cursor blinking next t…

Liam stared at his laptop screen, the cursor blinking next to a blank text box. The assignment was a research paper on photosynthesis, and it was due tonight at midnight. The clock on his computer read 10:45 PM. He’d been putting it off for a week, ever since Mr. Harrison explained the project. The instructions felt like a foreign language—”analyze the impact of varying light spectrums on chlorophyll production.” He’d tried to start it a few times, but the vocabulary and concepts were a jumble in his brain. Photosynthesis, cellular respiration… it all blurred together. Now, with the deadline looming, a wave of panic washed over him. He knew what he should have done. He should have asked Mr. Harrison for help. He should have gone to the office hours study session or emailed him earlier in the week for help. But he hadn’t. Defeated, he minimized the blank document and opened a new tab. His fingers hovered over the keyboard as he typed “photosynthesis research paper.” A few clicks later, he found a website offering pre-written essays. It would be so easy. A few dollars, a quick copy and paste, and the problem would be solved. He could get a good grade and make it to practice on time. No one would ever know. But as he looked at the screen, a knot formed in his stomach. He wasn’t just cheating Mr. Harrison. He was cheating his own education. He was giving up on the chance to learn, to understand something that had confused him. He knew that even if he got a good grade, the guilt would linger. What should Liam do to be honest in this situation? 
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