I would always wonder what great marks they would have got if they had spent more time preparing.
Although I was always jealous of these students, I never considered finding a way around the exam process.
In yesterday's Bay of Plenty Times, it was reported that 19 Bay teens had been caught breaking the rules during their NCEA exams last year.
Despite this being eight fewer than each of the previous two years, it is still concerning.
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has released a report showing there were 19 breaches in the Bay of Plenty during last year's external exams.
This was down from the previous two years, which each recorded 27 breaches in the area.
The majority of local breaches came from students having cell phones with them during the exam.
However, nationally, 55 students were caught having unauthorised material while another 33 students were caught with notes.
The breaches mean students could fail that exam.
When you are a teenager, you don't always have the foresight to know how this could impact your life. Bringing notes into one exam might not sound like a big deal but the repercussions could be damaging.
It is also a lesson for students in accepting consequences. In life there isn't always an easy way out.
You often have to work hard and it might take time to achieve your goals, but if you are persistent you will get there.
