My Friend Keeps Copying My Work
I have an assignment due tomorrow, and we received the instructions last Friday, which were pretty vague. To make matters worse, I wasn’t even at school that day.
One of my close friends filled me in on what the teacher had said. She explained that the assignment was straightforward: find simple explanations for the given topics, write them down, and provide our own examples. This was meant to be a self-assignment to gauge our understanding of the lessons so far.
Since it’s a self-assignment, it should be completed individually, as the name suggests. However, with the instructions being unclear, everyone was trying to figure things out on their own—except for Suzy (let’s call her that for now), who seems to think I can do the work for her.
Yesterday, she texted me asking for my assignment so she could copy it. I told her I hadn’t started yet and wasn’t sure what to write. You’d think that would prompt her to do it herself, but instead, today I got another text saying, “Can you send me the assignment?” No “please,” no effort to contribute—just an expectation that I would do the work so she could copy it verbatim.
Again, I told her I hadn’t made any progress since I wasn’t at school that day either. Then she asked if I would be in school tomorrow, likely hoping to copy my work in person before class. I responded vaguely, saying I wasn’t sure. Any reasonable person might take that as a hint, but not Suzy. She insisted, “Even then, just send it.” I reminded her again that I had no clue what to write, and her reply was, “Just send it once you write it.” How does she not pick up on my hints? 🤦🏻♀️
This isn’t the first time she’s asked to copy my homework, and it’s always the same—she just copies it without making any changes; it’s exactly like mine.
I study business, so accounting is one of my core subjects, and it can be tricky. However, with practice, it becomes much easier. My teacher typically assigns 2-4 questions for us to complete at home, especially crucial in my final year. Each time an assignment goes out, Suzy texts me for my answers. I’m happy to help if she genuinely doesn’t understand, but this isn’t the case.
It happens in other subjects too. For instance, in English, we often have creative writing assignments. One time, she asked for my work as a reference, and I sent it. The next day, I saw she had copied it word for word. It doesn’t stop with her; she shares it with the whole class, and suddenly everyone has the same assignment as me.
I’ve tried to be polite and wondered if I was overreacting, but it’s beyond frustrating to spend hours perfecting my work, only to have lazy classmates copy it in just a few minutes.
Finally, after her persistent requests, I told her to do the assignment herself and suggested she use other resources like Google for help. I think she took it poorly and replied with a curt, “Ok, bye.”
Does anyone have advice on handling this situation? I have a feeling she’s gone to our classmates to twist my reaction into something else, sigh. 🤦🏻♀️
It sounds like you’re in a tough situation with Suzy, and it’s completely understandable to feel frustrated by her behavior. It’s great that you recognize the importance of doing your own work, especially as you’re in your final year and preparing for your future.
Here are a few suggestions on how to handle this situation:
Set Clear Boundaries: It seems that Suzy has become accustomed to relying on you for her assignments. Be firm in your response. You’ve already started to do this by suggesting that she should work on her own, but you might want to reiterate that you can’t share your work moving forward. A straightforward “I can’t share my assignments anymore” could be effective.
Encourage Her to Seek Help: Instead of feeling guilty for not helping her, encourage Suzy to reach out to other resources, whether it’s other classmates, teachers, or online materials. Sometimes people need to hear it directly that self-study is important, especially in challenging subjects.
Stay Consistent: If she asks again, just gently remind her of your boundary. Consistency will help reinforce your point and will eventually make her less likely to ask for your work in the future.
Discuss with a Teacher (if needed): If she starts spreading things around about you or if the situation escalates, consider discussing it with a teacher you trust. They may provide guidance on how to handle the situation or even intervene if needed.
Focus on Your Work: It’s easy to get wrapped up in what others are doing, but try to concentrate on your own assignments and studies. Remind yourself that you’re doing this for your education and future, not just for grades.
Reach Out to Other Friends: If Suzy is sharing your assignments with others, it might help to talk to another friend about it. They may feel similarly and could even help support you in setting these boundaries with her.
Remember, it’s not petty to want to protect your hard work and integrity. You’re in a competitive academic environment, and it’s crucial to stand your ground while being respectful. Good luck, and take care of yourself!