Hi, my name is Shandiin W. I am in 10^th Grade, I attend Navajo Preparatory School in Farmington, NM, and I have been a part of Evolvement for three years now and two years on the Evolvement leadership team. 24/7 deals with helping schools become completely 100% tobacco free. 

It is important for schools in New Mexico to become 100% tobacco free because it’s to protect the health and safety of students, employees, and visitors to the school district. It prevents youth introduction to tobacco products. As a student, youth using tobacco products is dangerous because it can cause terminal illnesses, etc. Tobacco products have a big impact on youth more than adults. Youth get addicted when they see an adult like a teacher, parents, and grandparents or in general adults using tobacco. Youth use tobacco at school because they seem liked. Youth want to be seen as cool, lit, awesome and it causes other youth to get addicted and try it out.

In my community, there are a lot of youth that I know personally that started using tobacco products when they were very young. That is why I am a part of Evolvement, so I can educate my community and peers on why tobacco products are dangerous and unsanitary. There are multiple reasons why I care about trying to help, educate, and encourage people to stop using tobacco products not only for youth but adults too. 

A tobacco-free policy at a school can impact the community. When the community is verified by the school, the community knows that there is change happening and that they can help keep it tobacco free. When students are influenced and educated about why tobacco is dangerous and that it could lead to terminal illnesses, then they are most likely to embrace the tobacco-free policy. 

When a school district becomes tobacco-free, it will embrace change in all schools in that district. It can also help increase the schools’ achievement level. Also it can have the schools unite and all become tobacco free. Becoming tobacco free in one school district can encourage other school districts to be tobacco free as well and it would go on and on. 

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