Lee JiWon /First Draft/Thursday 1-3p.m.

Friendship or Conscience, that is the question!   'I cannot, in conscience, do such an unethical thing, but I don't want our friendship be broken up!' It was like Angels and Demons really existing and fighting each other in my mind at that moment. For me, as a little 14 year-old girl, choosing between friendship and conscience was such a tough decision… That day, as always, the wide and winding road was leading to the top of the school and the sun was slanting through the window as if it welcomes me to school. I was laying back, listening to music gently in my mother's car, trying not to feel my heart beating. I was staring at the scenery out of window consciously to think of something positive but, I couldn't stop imagining the moment that I being caught cheating. Or rather, being caught helping my dear friend to cheat off my answer. The phone rang right at the moment. It was my father. "Are you soon be there?" , said father to mother, asking to speak to me. "My palms are soaked in sweat, daddy." , I replied. My father would have thought that I'm keyed up before a midterm test, but what really got me nervous was a fear of what should I do. While my father was putting his heart into me by phone, the time came for me to get out of the car. Passing through the front gate after saying good bye to mother, although I arrived right in front of my classroom, I held back, terrified of going into the room. With all eyes upon me from lots of my classmates, I entered the room and sat on designated seat. Fortunately, my friend hasn't arrived yet and I desperately prayed that she would be absent from school. "As the world became industrialized and the world population increases, fossil fuels…", I was keeping repeating expected question and answer quietly, hoping to be relaxed. However, when suddenly my friend entered the classroom, I knew that my cheeks are getting hot in an instant again. I was so nervous that I could feel my hand trembling. "I will promise you one thing. If I am caught being cheated off yours, I wouldn't tell teacher that you showed the answers to me, rather I'd say I just cheated off alone." , said my friend, walking up to me. Even after the bell sounded for the start of the exam, I couldn't decide my mind and I hated myself so much. There was one certain belief that I should be a moral person, but I was really afraid of our 6 years of friendship be broken up if I don't "help" my friend. In the end, I didn't help her cheat off me and also totally goofed up my whole exam. There was no conversation between us after the exam. I trudged wearily into my home and spent a restless night that day. Casting back that tough day, it was the first night that I seriously thought about what is right and wrong in terms of morality. It was part of growing older to whom really cherish friendship above any other thing. Through that event, I learned that I should have my own moral compass that doesn't be easily moved and it is best to speak and act from my own convictions if I don't exactly know what to do. In hindsight, I owe it to that muggy one day to become a better person! I now, listen to my voice in my heart before deciding something.