The Truth Will Set You Free
Academic Integrity in the Time of COVID-19
By Ryan Meng-Killeen
Our current pandemic presents plenty of difficulties and obstacles for students. But, these stormy, turbulent times also provide us with an opportunity to examine ourselves and reflect on the question Christ asked His disciples when they were frightened in the storm: “Where is your faith?” [1]
Where is our faith? What do we choose to trust in to give us our peace and our sense of worth?
A couple of weeks ago, I had a prelim for an important pre-med course. Like all prelims now, it was take-home. However, unlike many tests, my professor told us to self-proctor it: 90 minutes, closed book, honor system.
My classmates and I were faced with a choice. We could follow the rules, take the test closed book, only use the allotted 90 minutes, and probably perform worse. Or, we could ignore the rules, use our notes, use extra time, work together, and get a higher grade.
It’s said that the person you really are is the person you are when nobody’s looking.
But Christians believe there’s always Someone looking.
It’s true that nobody would have to know if we decided to cheat on this prelim, and there would likely be little to no consequences. But, I, as a Christian, believe in a God who loves integrity, who commands us to be truthful and show honor in all that we do.
Where is my faith?
If my identity and self-worth are found in my academic success or in my future career as a doctor, then playing by the rules feels like shooting myself in the foot.
But, I believe that my worth is in that God loves me, and He demonstrated that love through the Cross: Jesus Christ died for my sins, bearing the Father’s wrath in my place so that I could be in a right relationship with Him. He did that not because of my own righteousness, or because of the grades I get in school, but because of who He is: a righteous, loving God.
Christ did not die for me because I am valuable; I am valuable because Christ died for me.
Because my worth is in Christ, I don’t need to rely on my studies and future career to feel valuable or to justify my existence. Instead, I am freed to study for joy, to glorify God, and to love and honor Him in all that I do.
So I, along with a couple of my Christian friends in the class, decided to take the prelim blind in the designated 90 minutes. On the last question, the timer on my phone went off. I had run out of time. Immediately, I was tempted to go another couple minutes just to finish the question. More tempted than I’d care to admit. But, at that moment, I felt that God had given me a deeper love for truth. It wasn’t that I wouldn’t have loved to earn a few extra points and get a better grade; it's that I have a greater love for Christ and His call for an integrity-filled life. I know that grades and earthly accomplishments will pass away; instead, because of my relationship with God, I have something infinitely, eternally more valuable.
When the alarm rang, I submitted my prelim, adding on a note explaining that I had run out of time on the last question.
A few days later, the grades came out, and as expected, the mean was quite high, which didn’t bode well for the curve. Unfortunately, although I studied hard and lost sleep preparing for this prelim, I didn’t do as well as I would have liked.
I knew for a fact that some students had worked together and compared answers on this prelim. At first, I was angry that others had cheated, performed better than me, and had gotten away with it.
But then I remembered this verse the Book of 1 Samuel, where God makes this declaration to the priest Eli: “…Those who honor me I will honor…” [2]
I believe that God honored our choice to obey Him. In this case, however, that honor from God didn’t mean getting a high grade.
I think this honor instead showed that there is a deeper, more abiding joy that comes from living your life for Christ, a joy that surpasses any fleeting pleasure we get in earthly things. When I remember what Christ has done for me, I can believe that every day, every moment, every choice I make, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, is another chance to glorify Him and bless His name.
And that is worth more than a dishonest A on a prelim any day.
If you are struggling with the pressures of academic achievement and career success, there is hope. Hard work and success are good, but they are not ultimate. As a Christian, I don’t need to get an A at all costs in order to feel justified or valuable. Instead, my value is found in knowing Christ as my Lord, my Savior, and my first love. My life is secure in His hands, and I am eternally, perfectly loved by Him.
SOURCES
Luke 8:25
1 Samuel 2:30