I'm lazy. My parents tell me to do something and I say, "OK, in a little bit," but then I don't. How can I overcome this fault of mine?

A. We commend you on your desire to change. That's an important first step that many people don't take.

So much of what we do is habit--both good and bad. Fortunately, it's not as hard as you might think to build good work habits.

We develop a lazy streak by habitually neglecting necessary duties. By putting off what we know we should do, we build up an unnecessary dislike and even fear of our assignments. What are normally small jobs grow into gigantic chores in our minds.

Here's how to make the jobs your parents ask you to do easier.

Make up your mind to do the task right away. The longer it takes to get started, the harder the chore will seem.

You'll have to do the job sooner or later, so you might as well get enthusiastically right into it. It won't hurt you. What will hurt is the constant strain of thinking about it and your parents nagging or disciplining you for neglect.

Make a checklist of regular chores that your parents routinely ask you to do (like taking out the garbage, cleaning your room or vacuuming the car). Nothing will please them more than getting jobs done before they have to ask you.

The satisfaction of making your parents happy and knowing that you've contributed to maintaining your home will become a good habit. You'll hardly remember that you were ever lazy!

- Answer prepared by Victor Kubik, a minister of the Worldwide Church of God

Taken from Youth 90 magazine

I have classmates who ask to copy my homework, but I'm scared to tell them no. I guess you can say that I'm scared of them. What should I do?

A. If you let them cheat by giving them your homework, you will end up with more trouble than if you didn't. Word will get quickly around that you are a source to copy homework from.

Dishonest classmates will start relying on you for finished assignments when theirs aren't done. You will encourage them not to do their work because they can always get it from you. They won't be learning anything and will be hurt in the long run.

Don't allow them to intimidate you. You might get caught and be punished for helping them cheat. More important, you would be doing something you know is wrong and would be tearing down character.

A solution is to offer to help those who might ask you about copying your homework. Show them how to get the answers or where to find them in the book.

It's best to maintain your integrity and reputation. Eventually your classmates will respect you and may even ask for help.

Honesty is the best policy. To cheat or to condone cheating will only hurt everyone.

- Answer prepared by Victor Kubik, a minister of the Worldwide Church of God

Taken from Youth 90 magazine