Teenage smoking

Last week when I was going to have my lunch, I noticed a group of drop-outs huddled outside Bishan Junction 8 shopping centre smoking and they look no more than 16. This then got me thinking of the way now teenagers run their lives and the illegal acts they have been associating with. In our teenage years, many have often linked smoking with being cool and being in touch with our peers. Being able to sneak cigarettes around is also considered as a very cool act and also that the person would be respected among his community. I feel the main reason why this teenagers sought to this bad behaviour is so that they would be accepted by somebody. Most of these teens have been ignored by their parents and not being understood by others around them causing them to seek other methods. Managing to sneak cigarettes would result in them being accepted by their fellow smokers. They would feel as if that these people are their family and that they are the only ones in today’s cruel society that would accept them as a friend and equal. Smoking with them would also allow the individual to gel in with the environment better and also feel more at home.

Although many have stated that smoking is a good way of relieving stress, especially in today’s result orientated society, stress is like air, we have it all the time and smoking would help lighten the load. However, smoking is not a good way as it not only harms our body but also causes social problems. The tar that is contained in the cigarette is extremely harmful to our organs and we may even get severe lung cancer. Smoking is an addiction which makes us feel weak and irritable whenever smoking did not take place. This would cause us to create a conflict between relationships causing us to isolate form our friends. A good way to relieve stress is to play sports. Playing sports not only helps us relieve stress but also allows us to exercise and also make friends and it would also stimulate our body so that our mind would be fresh and clear after that. This is a useful yet healthy technique to rid of stress.

Parents or guardians should take time of their busy schedule to try and understand their children more and also be able to communicate with them, maintaining a healthy relationship between parents and child. Understanding them would also be able to help them out should they need any aid. This would have a great effect on the child as he would improve physically and psychologically. There would also be less problems surrounding thus allowing him to be able to concentrate on more important activities.