Hello, my name is Lauren and I’m a Senior at Arrowhead Park Early College High School. This is my 4th year in 24/7. 24/7 is a program that is working on making all New Mexico schools 100% tobacco free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The reason I’m writing this post is because I want to share why tobacco-free schools are important.

As a senior I’ve seen almost all there is to see in high school – especially considering that my school is pretty small. I’ve had freshman jitters and was a tired junior (at some point). I’ve learned a lot, and the biggest lesson I received was that high schoolers are easily influenced into the wrong direction.

By keeping our schools 100% tobacco free, we are protecting our students’ futures. 24/7 advocates for tobacco free campuses through principal meetings, school events, and school board meetings. As a student advocate I’ve even had the chance to speak with state legislators and inform them about the negative impact tobacco can and has had on students. Enforcing a comprehensive tobacco policy on school campuses ensures that students will not be influenced toward tobacco.

One cigarette is not just one cigarette. It’s a bad influence that can spiral into a catastrophic addiction. I want my biggest worry – and my siblings’ – to be our upcoming math test, not tobacco. I never want my friends to have to hold their breath as they walk through the hallway at school. Every student deserves a safe space to learn, and the work that 24/7 students do to advocate for it makes all the difference.

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