Hey! I’m a sophomore in high school, and my name is Desarae. Despite this being my first year in Evolvement, I already have quite the impression. I joined for a variety of reasons, including to help out in the community, try something new, add it to my college applications, and hey, the rewards didn’t sound bad either. Signing up was ridiculously easy. I saw Evolvement on a list of extracurriculars, read a little about it, and thought, Why not? No one had to convince me—I just went for it. Now, I’m meeting new people and slowly building friendships with others in the group, which is pretty cool.

At our first meeting, we were introduced to the advisors, our Youth Field Organizer, and the leadership team. We went over the group’s goals, and received a crash course on the effects of smoking and vaping. Next, we learned about the two big campaigns: 24/7 and No Minor Sale. After that, we jumped straight into our first project—going around the school and getting students, teachers, and staff to write down why smoking shouldn’t be allowed on school grounds, and collecting opinion surveys for No Minor Sale. We wrapped up by heading back inside for more info on the group and, of course, the best part—lunch (Subway, if you just so happen to be wondering). The training really stuck with me, especially learning that some smokers don’t just get addicted to nicotine—they also get hooked on the chemicals in the flavors. Kind of wild when you think about it. I know a lot of people that vape because of the flavors so it makes sense that they would cause people to continue using nicotine products.

This experience has already taught me a lot. I’ve learned about public health, especially when it comes to minors, gained leadership skills, and met new people, all while making an impact at my school. If you’re new, expect a welcoming environment (I know, shocking, right?), interesting discussions, and fun projects that actually make a difference. Every training session gives you more tools to create change. And if you’re thinking about joining, just do it! I promise you won’t regret it.