Maintaining Dignity in Work: A Lesson in Integrity

Photo Credit: Do Something

For seven hours last Wednesday, I wrote an eight-page history paper. When 2 a.m. flashed on the clock, I was so tempted to give up and take the easy way out. With the emergence of AI, the easy way has gotten so much easier. I can have a computer write an entire essay for me by clicking a button. Using AI to cheat is a growing phenomenon (Education Week).

But is it really cheating?

It’s not like I’m looking over my peer’s shoulder or stealing their project topic. I’m just using my resources. I’m just losing a little bit of integrity by not doing my own work.

However, that’s not something any of us should be willing to do. Being clothed in dignity does not just encourage integrity, it requires it. But how do we avoid losing integrity in a world that encourages us to discard it to get ahead? I’ve found three ways:

1. Set a Timetable for Each Project

Most of us don’t start an assignment wanting to compromise our values. But sometimes, life happens. We get behind, and suddenly it’s 2 a.m., and Chat GPT looks a lot more attractive than staying up until 4. It’s not enough to just set a final due date. Instead, split your assignment up into manageable chunks and create a calendar outlining specific due dates for all of them. Check out some resources about creating studying timetables. Most importantly, don’t leave anything to the last minute. That’s where integrity falters.

2. Ask for Help 

Sometimes, things just don’t make sense. It’s easy to give up and fall into the cheating trap when you’re confused. But instead of doing that, just ask. Unless they’re not clothed in dignity, your teachers don’t want to see you fail. They want to help you. Send your teacher an email; ask a peer how they interpreted instructions. Just don’t copy someone else’s work or the work of a computer void of all personality.

3. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes

Sometimes you’re going to fail, and that’s okay. If you use AI or others’ work as a crutch your entire life, you will never be able to stand on your own. If the choice is between turning in something real and potentially flawed or something perfect with no humanity, choose something real. Remember, your worth is in God, not your grades. So still try your best, but don’t cheat because you equate good grades with worth.

Work is hard. School is hard. Sometimes, it seems a lot more convenient to let a computer or another person do your work for you. But as daughters of the King, we are called to do everything for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31). God gave us creativity. Don’t waste that gift on cheating or laziness. Try your best. Fail. Succeed. I promise that creating something that’s fully yours will always make you feel better than letting a computer or someone else do it for you. 

So go clothe yourself in dignity in your work. You’ve got this!