Last week at Northridge Middle School, the sixth grade students in Mr. Kyle’s and Mrs. Sowers classes had the opportunity to learn about Towards No Tobacco Use for three days. During those three days students hear and see first hand the health consequences of smoking. On the first day, there is a DVD, and a general discussion about tobacco products. At the end of the first day, students are assigned a writing assignment for a grade. Here is what ShyAnn Vogler wrote Aug. 22. Dear Loved One, I am writing you to let you know how much you mean to me. You are the person that I am closest to in the whole world, and without you I would be completely lost. You are always there to make sure I’m OK, and to keep me safe, so in this letter I am trying to return the favor. You may not know this, but using tobacco is very dangerous. You are a smoker, and with that come several health risks. Smoking can cause lung cancer, premature aging, heart disease and increase your risk for stroke. Smoking also harms all those who are around you, because several thousand people per year die from second hand smoke. Smoking takes away your stamina and causes you to be more tired and drained of energy. It also makes your teeth and skin look awful, and it plain stinks! Tobacco companies make smoking look cool. They try to make people believe that smoking makes you have more friends and that you will have a happier life. They try to make you believe that if you don’t smoke, then you will not have a good life. In actuality, smoking is not cool at all. Visit the cancer ward at the hospital, and I am sure there will be a couple of people there to tell you how not cool smoking is. It is a gross and nasty habit. I am here to tell you straight up that I do not like that you smoke. I think you are a much classier person than that and that you care more about yourself and others to smoke. Smoking is a horrible habit that destroys families, and I do not agree with it. I am asking you, begging you to please stop smoking. Don't you want to see me graduate? Don't you want to see me get married and have children? Do you want me to get sick from your second hand smoke? Do you like that smell of smoke on you? Please consider all that I have explained to you. I know that if you really look at it, you will make the right choice. Love, ShyAnn Vogler 6th Grade Northridge Middle School A letter like that speaks for itself. Thanks to all the sixth graders at Northridge Middle School who participated in Towards No Tobacco Use last week. For more information on how to QUIT visit, www.cvillesmokefree.org.
