Smoking.

So, as a normal 9th grader at any school, I take health. In my health class we, of course, are talking about the reasons and risk of smokers and/or tobacco users. My teacher went on and on about why it's so terriable to smoke and what it does to you body like any other teacher would. Well, as my loud and opinioned self always does, i had to speak my mind about my opinions on this subject. Yes, I know that smoking is not the most healthly thing to do in life, and I'm not saying I smoke like a pack a day, I could go 4-5 days without even one cigarette but I also believe that second hand smoke is just as bad if not worse as smoking it's self. When you smoke a cigarette you inhale all the bad shit it has in it, but you do the same when someone blows cigarette smoke into your face. I believe that America is a free country and that anyone who has an interest in smoking should be able to. I'm not saying you should be able to smoke in a restaurant next to a little 5 year old girl, but if you want to go outside and smoke, you have all rights to do that. I also think that just because we're under 18 teens should have a right to smoke. Just because we're younger and stuff doesn't mean we shouldn't have the same rights as an adult. I have been drealed since I was 6 years old to not smoke and how bad smoking is for you. I know all the facts and I know it's not the greatest thing to do but it's also my choice and my body I'm dealing with. I'm not the type of person that would sit there and blow my smoke in your face to be funny, because I know that it's not. If you choose not to smoke thats your choice and I repect you for that, your a much better person then myself. I'm also not going to sit there and ask you over and over again if you want a cigarette or tell you your not "cool" because your not smoking with me. I view life like this, (btw I got these words and this idea from one of my friends but I also believe it) everyone will die one day, I know you don't want to hear it, but it will happen. Eating healthly, exercise, not doing drugs or alcohol, and not smoking is just a prevention of death. If you eat 6 doughnuts everyday of your life, you will most likely be fat. Well, from being fat you can get a heart diease or have a stroke, there's death right there knocking on your door. Okay, let's say you 45 and have never drank a sip of alcohol or smoken one cigarette in you life. You eat heathly food. You exercise for 60 mintues a day. One day, you have a heart attack. Your told your heart is failing and you have 60 days to live. Well, all that happen even when your heathly. Like I said everyone is going to die some day. Yeah, smoking can shorten you life, just like eating fatty foods everyday or drinking obessively. But I think that your given this one life and this one change to live your life to fullest. I don't think that shouold be wasted on worrying about smoking or eating the wrong thing. If you want to smoke a cigarette, go for it! If you want to eat 6 doughnuts daily, eat away! Don't spend your life worrying about things you can't change, such as death.

Well, that's my view on this subject. I hope I made you think a little bit.

-Elizabeth Burwell