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My name is Hannah Dixon and I am a junior at Portales High School. I have been working with Evolvement for 3 years now trying to create tobacco-free schools 24-7. Tobacco-free schools aren’t truly tobacco-free unless the policy applies to everyone at all times. Students are not allowed to have any type of tobacco on them at all on campus during school and at school activities. These policies need to also apply to staff and guests for the school to be truly tobacco-free.

24-7 is a campaign that focuses on tobacco at school. All of our work happens at school where we take surveys from our peers to get their opinions on tobacco-free schools. One way we do this is through setting up a table in the cafeteria during lunch, during any sports games or theatre performances. For the last two years I helped with  Take Down Tobacco Day, which is one of our biggest ways to reach out and educate our peers. When I hosted the table in the cafeteria I got to engage my classmates and get their opinions on the issue of tobacco in schools. We got to play games with them to get them interested in taking a survey for us. While we were getting surveys it showed us how important it is to get feedback from the people being affected. The students are the biggest priority for 24-7 and if we can’t know how it affects the students we can’t know how to change and better our campaigning.

I work with 24-7 so that not only can my school environment improve but future classes will have professional places to learn. Students in any grade should not have to worry about the peer pressure of others to try something they might not want to try. The peer pressure I have gone through in school is something I don’t want younger students to go through. Addiction starts at such a young age and if we can get it out of the schools as early as possible students will be able to learn freely. Getting it out of schools now will help the future generations grow up into well developed individuals with the proper education that they need.

1. Blog
2. Taking Down Tobacco at Portales High School