I recently applied for an apprenticeship with the local council, which had a decent starting wage. I put a lot of effort into my application, writing a 2000-word statement, and was thrilled to get shortlisted. The interview process was intense, lasting four hours and including a maths test, a drawing test, a presentation, and an interview with three senior staff members. A week later, I received the fantastic news that the job was mine, but the offer was conditional on satisfactory pre-employment checks, particularly regarding my A-level qualifications. In my excitement, I made a mistake by inflating my results; I claimed I got a C in maths when I actually received a D. I let my boyfriend convince me that it was okay to bend the truth since 'everyone does it.' I had no idea how serious this could be. Now, a week later, I still haven't received my contract, and I suspect they are waiting to verify my qualifications. Feeling anxious, I decided to take responsibility and emailed the hiring manager to apologize for my dishonesty. My boyfriend and some family members think I made a mistake by admitting this, but I felt it was the right thing to do. I’m really worried I might have ruined this opportunity that I was so excited about. I just want to know if I did the right thing and what the likely outcome might be. I've been feeling anxious and angry at myself for the past couple of weeks.