What are you losing?
Problem solving. Every type of analytical thinking takes certain mental processes that nobody can fully possess innately; they must be developed, refined, and practiced. Doing math problems doesn't just teach you how to apply a formula to solve for x countless times over. The process requires a sort of creative thinking that you apply in every other discipline. Everything from setting up a chemistry problem to solve for the concentration of a solute, writing a program to solve a novel task, coming up with creative solutions to problems in your life or the world—math does not just teach you math. This is true for every homework assignment that requires analytical thinking—intelligence is a choice as much as it is a gift. Too many people believe that intelligence is limited by a person's genetic makeup. In fact, studies in psychology tell us that about half of intelligence is determined by genetics. That means that the other half is up to you. Intelligence is not static; not only is your crystallized intelligence (knowing facts about the world) constantly growing, but also your fluid intelligence (knowing how to adapt to new situations and think analytically). So while the crystallized intelligence you gain from mathematics might not be useful to you in the future, the fluid intelligence you cultivate is infinitely valuable. Adolescence is perhaps the most crucial time for you to determine to refine your intelligence. Now it is your responsibility to cultivate your mind, and failing to reach your limits is your doing if you go through life without attempting to learn.Concentration. Regardless of how intelligent you are, if you are unable to focus your intelligence to achieve a mental task, then your abilities are useless. The mind can be trained to function in a way that maximizes productivity, but it requires discipline and practice. Cheating takes away both. A person accustomed to cheating often finds that concentrating on that must be done legitimately is very difficult.
This unfortunate side effect of cheating compounds on itself, making it more difficult to do real work, and making a cheater more and more dependent. Don't put yourself in that situation.
Patience. It is true, you will often encounter homework assignments or subject matter that seems tedious or absurd. Yet, situations like these are present in everyday life, and learning to deal with them calmly and effectively is a valuable skill to have.
Time management and efficiency. If you artificially decrease your workload by cheating, especially in middle school or early high school, you may find that it works and is easily executed. You might enjoy the freedom of not having homework to do on the weekends, or the reassurance of good grades on tests that you never planned on studying for. However, this doesn't last. You will soon encounter situations where cheating is not an option. Finals, the SAT, AP tests, classes with watchful teachers—in all of these situations, it is very difficult to cheat, and it is also all but impossible to do well without extensive preparation. When, for example, a junior in high school is studying for the PSAT, SAT, struggling in difficult courses, preparing for AP examinations, and all the while trying to juggle extracurriculars, family life, fun and friends, this student is going to be in a tricky situation. It takes practice to be able to plan out every day, and allot time so all the studying and work gets done while still making time for sleep, fun, and other activities necessary to one's sanity. The people that have practice this skill are the ones that have been planning their time throughout high school; the ones without it are those that never had the need. As high school intensifies, they find that there really was a need to practice time management, but they realize it too late.
