For The Stupid Teenagers Like Me

Hi,

I was one of those stupid kids that thought it would be 'cool' to smoke, starting at an age that is so unthinkable and brainless. I started at the age of 14, i am 17 now and have only just realised the damage it was doing to my physicaly, mentally and socially.

My first cigarette was obviously a bum puff but then soon moved onto full inhalation within weeks. Since then on through the years i was lost with the wrong crowd thinking it was an acceptable thing to do socially, thinking that i could quit instantly, and that it was just a phase.

I then soon had to find the hard way realised that i had an addiction, borrowing cigarettes and then soon on buying them for my self about a 20$ deck every 4 days. but did not want to admit it to anyone, even my closest of friends. I had such an addiction it was so strong, i could not help it, this went on for about 2 years with out thinking a thing and standing in the darkness to save myself of persecution of adults because i was only 15/16.

My school forced students to play sports, mostly cardiovascular sports. I used to play Rugby Union and AFL but that all soon ended quickly like a cigarette. i was not able to keep up for my life so i had stopped playing those type of sports and moved onto sports like Sailing and Golf.

Although i had all my sport sorted out to facilitate my addictions, my friends started to dissapear, all because i used to play rugby and afl with them, but then soon on they knew why i quit because i was smoking. This did not make me feel any better at all. I always thought that "i dont care, ill find other people that smoke". Soon then on It had taken over my life, always washing my hands, brushing my teeth, to hide it from my parents, well only my mother because my dad smoked too and he couldnt smell anything nor care. My mum to me was a pain, telling me to quit, getting me nicotine gum and i hated it. It didnt help either that my dad thought it was acceptable to smoke around a 16 year old in the car or even at home.

So for a while i had been at an 'all-boy' school, a private school, where majority of kids smoke. I dont advise for parents that think private schools are 'safe'. There are so many drugs it is unbelieveable, but that is another story. For another reason i was moved schools(not becuase of smoking). I had moved to a government school. this is when my life had flipped around.

My new school was a co-ed Government public school. I thought it was the coolest thing ever, thought that everyone did drugs, smoked and were just the same as me. Turns out no one was, i was the only idiot. But the thing is i was still so indulged in cigarettes i would just leave the school to have one when i wanted. I felt so disconnected just being the only smoker, i just couldnt believe it.

So then on my parents had soon found out i was a heavy smoker buying a deck about every one or two days. This was not really the greatest part of my life, especially being 17 and being given more freedom as to becomming a adult soon. I had tried several times to quit, gum, patches, spray,nothing worked. it all just seemed to stress me out taking things all the time, smoking randomly and then not smoking.... it just did not work.

One day i had met a girl. she was the girl of my life. She had liked me and so did I. i guess i could say that things got pretty serious, but one days she said that she hated smokers and i could not leave her for my life. so on the 1st of July 2013 i had quit cigarettes. the first few weeks were herenderous, but my girl had helped me all the was with it, and i feel super awesome and happy. I just have heaps of energy and i can breathe so much more easier of 4 years of smoking crap that i cannot even afford at my age. Smoking - A rich mans habit

I love my girl and i could never let her go.

That is my story,

Thanks