Integrity is so important when you are working to achieve your goals. In hindsight, do you accept the decisions that you have made? Are you content with your path toward greatness and are you getting there through hard work or climbing and stomping on the backs of others? I love seeing people succeed, but I have a problem when they do it underhandedly, especially my students.
I'd be hypocritical to say that I have always been 'by the book' while I was a student in school. I found my shortcuts to getting things done and my grade reflected it and not in a good way either. The outcome reflected my half-steppin'. But one thing I desire not to do is put someone in a situation in which I have chosen to be in, meaning, I am do bad by myself. I can think of one time I put my friends in a compromising situation and I still hear about it... 15 years later! To know that I affected them in a way that was lasting didn't make me feel very good.
Integrity is such a big part of growth. It is learned. It is shown. It is witnessed. I desire all three, exercising integrity in all situations, especially as an adult and, even more so, as a parent. So what is my point? Don't expect me to exercise a lack of integrity, especially as a professor. I have told my students SO many times that I do not 'give' grades! They EARN them. I remember one I received an email and the student was asking about a 'C' grade earned. I explained the grade and how the student received it. The student stated that this grade could prevent them from going to nursing school and that they wanted it changed to a 'B'. I told the student to call me. When the student called, I said that I couldn't change a grade that was earned. This student pushed and asked and almost begged for this grade change and I told the student, very calmly, "Sorry, but I can't live with such dishonesty. Can you?" The student said, "Huh?" I replied, "If you really want the 'B', please contact my director and let her know what you desire." *silence* I continued to state, "You have plenty of time to do better in your other classes to help your GPA." *silence* Then the students said, "Okay, thank you" and we said our 'goodbyes'.
I thought that the situation would infuriate me. It definitely surprised me, but what made me mad is what situation occurred previously that gave this student the nerve to ask for a better grade? Has this been done before and if so, what professor would do that? So, they have tainted their own integrity and the student witnessed it and, apparently, thought this was okay. Again, this is speculation. Maybe this was the first time and they thought they would take a shot at it. Well, the student got SHOT DOWN! You will appreciate your journey to success when you travel the road of integrity.
REMEMBER: WHEN YOU WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL, AIN'T NO HALF STEPPIN'! INTEGRITY IS LEARNED; GRADES ARE EARNED!
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