Hello ya-all – My name is Lisa C. I am now 12 years old and have been smoking regularly for the past five or six years - and I would like to share my story with all of you. NO ONE SHOULD SMOKE. WEATHER YOU ARE AN ADULT, TEENAGER, CHILD, CAT OR DOG. IF YOU DO SMOKE YOU SHOULD QUIT NOW. YES I AM QUITE YOUNG RIGHT NOW AND I AM TOTALLY ASHAMED OF MY AQUIRED SMOKING HABIT. DO NOT FOLLOW IN MY FOOTSTEPS IF YOU ARE MY AGE - OR ANY AGE FOR THAT MATTER. I thought it would be beneficial for everyone to get my perspective on this smoking issue. First off a really quick history; I had my first cigarette at age of 6, believe it or not. At the time my school was located directly behind my house so each day I would walk to and from school. No more than a few hundred yards. On one particular day, when school let out it was just raining cats- and-dogs. My 3rd grade teacher, Ms Clark (not her real name) motioned me over to her car so I would at least be able to stay dry. As I was sitting in her car, I had noticed a pack of cigarettes in her purse. This was really something thrilling to me, because I did not know or believed teachers smoked. Well as stupid as I was, I ask Ms Clark if I could have one. She hesitated and gave a brief laugh and then to my utter surprise, amazement and shock, she said “sounds like a good ideal to me”. She took a cigarette and lit it and then passed the pack to me. I took one out, leaned over a got a light from Ms Clark. While I was extremely nervous, I must admit that this was something I was really enjoying. I finished my cigarette and Ms Clark was still working on hers. It stopped raining, I got down and went home. Not much developed with my smoking for about the next two years. Although I did have a cigarett now and then, but certainly not on a routine, regular basis. At the beginning of 5th grade, I think I was 8 years old then, I began to smoke quite often – a pack a day regularly. What trigger this was Ms Clark again! But certainly not her fault. My mom and I were in the bowling alley eating and Ms Clark was sitting at a table right by us. After eating my mom left briefly to go do something, make a call or something, I got up and went and sat at Ms Clark’s table. This time I did not have to ask Ms Clark for a cigarette, she offered. I accepted, and while we both were there smoking my mom had come back. She observed what was going on, and to tell you the truth she seemed unmoved by the whole episode. On one had I was surprised that she did not go through the roof, but on the other had I was pleased that she was not going to have a heart attack right there. I had really never felt the need to hide my smoking from anyone, even my mom and dad who both soon came to just accept the fact that I was a truly adolescent smoker. It is really funny, between the age of 8 and 11 I did not have too hard of a time purchasing cigarettes, but that soon ended and stores began to refuse me. This is when my mom and dad began to give me some help with purchasing my cigarettes. Smoking is a stupid thing to do and I do not advocate it to anyone, especially children as young as I. I do enjoy smoking, but this is a decision I made for myself. I am now 12 years old and I am not overly thrilled about having a smoking habit at such a young age. Be that as it may, and like I said, I do enjoy smoking. My schools (Texas schools are pretty understanding in this area) in the past, as well as my new school have really been a big help to me in providing for a safe and secure place for me to smoke while I am at school. I am not sure if I really agree with all of my schools supporting me, but I certainly was not going to turn down any of the offers and all the help that was given to me. My gosh, my current school has applied less restrictive smoking rules onto me than what they have applied to the school staff, including the teachers. To me this is ridiculous, so while I am at school, more times than not, I find myself imposing a limited smoking policy on myself. I try my best to stay on par with what the school staff and teachers have to abide by. And I think I do a pretty good job at that. I have to run for now, my youth group is meeting soon. I could write more later if anyone has any interest at all in hearing more on my perspective of adolescent smoking, Just let me know. I am not too sure if I am 8 or 9 in this 5th grade picture of me. My mom says I was smoking a pack a day when this picture was taken, but to be truthful I think smoking was still a novel thing to me and I believe I was smoking a bit more than a pack a day. Perhaps a pack and a half would be closer to the truth. Proud? ABSOLUTELY NOT!! Ashamed? YES - no doubt about it! Enjoyable? Trthgully, I would have to say yes to that. Stupid? Yes. Do I with I could stop smoking? Well...yes and no - I think I could stop, I am just not too sure if I really want to give it up right now. If you have questions you may contact me at Lisacruzjohnson@gmail.com Lisa C.