My name is Saim Iqbal. I am a senior at Arrowhead Park Early College High School in Las Cruces. This is my second year being a part of Evolvement and my first year on the leadership team. 24/7 is one of the Evolvement campaigns that I work on. 24/7 works to keep schools and school districts 100% tobacco-free, 24 hours a day, and 7 days a week. The Day at the Capitol is a yearly event where the leadership team goes to Santa Fe and meets with state legislators to support our causes, and this year I was a part of the team that went to the state capitol.

At the New Mexico Roundhouse, students from around the state came together to meet with their local lawmakers. It was fun to see how the government works up close. We talked to the lawmakers about a project called 24/7 and why it’s important to keep schools free of tobacco. I got to talk with some important people, like Representative Herndon and Senators Townsend, Jones, and Block. They asked good questions about kids using vapes and tobacco, and ways they could help us with laws. It felt great to have meaningful talks, and it was nice to see the lawmakers really listening to us and caring about what we think.

This experience was important because it showed me that students can make a difference. I learned that teaching lawmakers about student health is crucial for making good rules that keep students safe. By talking about what our group does and how tobacco and vaping affect schools, we helped lawmakers see why strict rules are needed. This can make schools safer, reduce the number of students using tobacco, and create healthier communities. The day at the Capitol also helped me feel more confident in speaking in public and standing up for what I believe in, which will help me even after high school. I hope our work leads to more support for rules against tobacco in schools across New Mexico. This experience showed me that what young people do really matters and that students can help shape a healthier future.

1. Blog
2. Sharing the 24/7 campaign with the state legislature