by Ivo Radev (8A)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The newspaper is investigating smoking habits and attitudes among students. It will run several articles on the topic. We welcome your comments and suggestions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n [For this article, Ivo Radev interviewed an eighth-grader who is an ex-smoker. She told him her story about how she got involved with smoking.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is her story:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am an ex-smoker. Everything started in sixth grade. The first time I tried it was on the roof of a block, but I was not alone. I was there with other smokers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I was spending around 40 leva [Editor’s note: For U.S. readers, that’s about $22] on cigarettes weekly. My parents also are smokers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite everything, I knew the health risks. You can get cancer in two to three months if you do not smoke properly. [Editor’s note: The idea of smoking “properly” is curious; all tobacco products, however consumed, contribute to cancer and other health issues.] <\/p>\n\n\n\n I assume students smoke because it is pleasant and it has a nice smell. They find it interesting. When you smoke you also lose your hunger and you have a feeling that you just overate. It is popular because it is prohibited and easy to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you smoke, you also rise in the social hierarchy. You get to look like a person who is older and has more power. No-one made me try it. In fact, they did not want me to do it because they wanted to keep the cigarettes for themselves. I have made some people addicted to cigarettes and they still are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If someone is interested in trying smoking, I would encourage them to do it so that they understand what it is and can form their own opinion about it. Smoking unites people. The students split into groups and find new friends. It is a common topic to talk about in our daily lives. The social norms definitely require you to try it. The thing is that everyone around you does it so you need a very strong willpower to resist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I would start smoking again but for now I do not know the reasons behind this desire. I cannot really say that students who smoke are \u201cadmired\u201d. People watch you with other eyes when you smoke. You are just part of the community. I enjoyed smoking but a lot of students do it just to show off. They get addicted because of their desire to make people like them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I would not have quit if my parents had not grounded me from going out all summer. If they had not found out about this, I am sure I would still be smoking. Whatever I advise you about smoking, my words are meaningless because everyone decides for themselves. But still, my advice is to try it a little bit but only to satisfy your curiosity. Please, do not repeat my mistake. Think about your future in advance so that there are no bad consequences for you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Ivo Radev (8A) The newspaper is investigating smoking habits and attitudes among students. It will run several articles on the topic. We welcome your comments and suggestions. [For this article, Ivo Radev interviewed an eighth-grader who is an ex-smoker. She told him her story about how she got involved with smoking.] This is her…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":870,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n