My name is Johnesse Martinez and I am a Junior at Gadsden High School. This is my third year in Evolvement and first year on the leadership team. 24/7 is a campaign that advocates for a tobacco and nicotine-free school, and works to not allow these types of drugs on campus. This campaign is working to prohibit distribution, possession, or use of nicotine products on school campuses 24 hours a day 7 days a week. This goes for students, staff, administrators, and parents, and everyone at all school events and activities.

I participated in an after school basketball event in February. We took advantage of the month and themed our event after Valentine’s Day. I was able to educate students, staff, and parents about why having the possession of nicotine is bad. Having these products can be a distraction to a healthy learning environment and process. Smoking can also be very damaging to the human body. All nicotine sicknesses can be 100% avoidable and it is important to prioritize our developing bodies and minds.

The youth should care about a tobacco free school because they should prioritize that their education will benefit them in the future. Not vaping benefits your health and gives you a longer life expectancy, and to me this means people should care about themselves. Staff and students should not smoke on campus ever, especially because staff and adults set the example and if teens see this they are more likely to be easily influenced to try a nicotine product. This is why I want to be more involved with the 24/7 campaign, to make sure students, staff, and parents know and understand that schools should be a tobacco and nicotine-free environment.

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