Category: Oklahoma

My name is Brooklyn and I am 17 years old. I am a senior at Keys High School. I have been a part of Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL) for three years and a Leadership Team member for two years. As a YAHL Leadership Team member, it is our job to educate people about our two campaigns, CounterAct Tobacco and Elevate Student Health. During this year’s YAHL Leadership Team summit, I learned how to advocate and spread awareness about our campaigns, whether it’s meeting with a state leader such as a legislator or simply talking with my high school principal.

My goal is to make a healthier school and community for my younger sister who is 13 years old. I want to make a better place for her to grow up in. We have a four-year age gap which means her first year of high school will be my first year of college. I have a twin brother who I do everything with. While I had a sibling to start high school with, my sister will not have that same support. Anything I can do to make her high school experience better I want to strive for. 

YAHL has helped me gain so many life skills and helped me to step out of my comfort zone. I have witnessed so much growth in myself over these past few years. In YAHL, I have learned how to prepare for public speaking, set up meetings, contact important people in my community, professionally connect with peers and present to middle and elementary school students. Before YAHL I would get nervous speaking up in class or talking to adults, but now I feel confident sharing my ideas and standing up for what I believe in. YAHL has shown me that teens can make real change when we use our voices.

It truly means so much to me that YAHL has given me the opportunity to make a change in my school and community for my younger sister. I am so grateful to be a part of the YAHL organization and Leadership Team. This program has shaped me into someone who wants to lead, help others and create a healthier future for the next generation.

Hello, my name is Madison. I am from Haskell, Oklahoma. YAHL stands for Youth Action for Health Leadership, an initiative funded by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET). YAHL empowers high school students to promote health and advocate for policies related to nutrition, active living and the prevention of tobacco and vaping use among youth. Through the program, I plan to be involved in leadership training, learn about health and make a change in Oklahoma. In my generation and the people I’m surrounded by, I see a lot of nicotine use. I believe our efforts in YAHL can help change those unhealthy behaviors. 

Nicotine is an unhealthy and dangerous substance because it is highly addictive and harms the body. Nicotine causes withdrawal symptoms, cardiovascular damage, increased heart rate and blood pressure, and a higher risk of heart attacks. It can also lead to severe lung damage. Vapes and cigarettes should be harder for young people to access, and there should be consequences for adults who provide them to minors. YAHL’s CounterAct Tobacco campaign addresses these issues by collecting surveys about people’s opinions on tobacco and tobacco policy. We use the data to try to encourage lawmakers to strengthen tobacco regulations.

My school also faces barriers to good health, such as poor water quality and unhealthy food options. YAHL’s Elevate Student Health campaign helps address these problems by advocating for healthier food and cleaner water in schools. We push for better nutrition and encourage students to choose healthy foods over junk food. These changes help us build lifelong habits that support our health and well-being. 

Through YAHL, I have learned to be more confident in my public speaking by speaking out for what’s right and advocating for positive change in my community and school. I will strive to make a difference in Oklahoma with YAHL. I see all the problems with tobacco and obesity around me, and I will continue to try to help make a difference. I hope to become a better person and help others do the same. YAHL is a program I really enjoy that brings students together to work on these big problems around us. 

My name is Sage S., and I am 15 years old. I attend Atoka Public Schools and am part of Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL), a program that educates others and promotes policies that improve youth health and reduce tobacco use. I participate in YAHL primarily for the connections and networking opportunities. YAHL allows me to meet new people, strengthen natural leadership skills like public speaking and build connections that may benefit me in the future. For me, it’s also a chance to grow personally and advocate for issues I care about.

Health activism matters to me because I find it unnecessary for teens to harm their health and risk others’ health simply because they are unaware of or apathetic toward the dangers of tobacco use. I firmly believe that educating others and implementing policies that protect youth health can lead to happier, healthier communities.

Across Oklahoma, many teens spend their days sitting on the couch eating candy, watching TV or vaping. That’s become the norm, but we can change that. By offering healthier alternatives, making exercise fun and helping teens understand what they’re putting into their bodies, we can encourage better habits. That’s exactly what YAHL is all about.

I hope to build connections by raising public awareness about these important issues. I can do that by meeting with legislators, speaking to political leaders and engaging in public speaking, which I enjoy. YAHL gives me the opportunity to do all of this while learning more about how we can improve community health. It’s an incredible experience that is helping me prepare for success and I believe everyone deserves that same chance. That’s why YAHL is so important to me.

Hello, my name is Jayson and I am 16 years old. I am a senior at Muskogee High School. I have been part of Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL) since my sophomore year, and this is my first year on the Leadership Team. YAHL is a youth-led organization that educates people in Oklahoma about unhealthy habits and the impact they can have on our lives. We also advocate for policies that make it easier to live a healthy life. When you join YAHL, you learn new things about your community, meet new people and make friends along the way. Health activism matters to me because I can positively affect the lives of people younger than me.

YAHL events have made me feel like I’ve actually made an impact on people’s lives. I participated in a Swap Up Day as part of the Elevate Student Health campaign at my school. Elevate Student Health helps Oklahoma schools improve youth health by increasing physical activity and offering better nutrition. During Swap Up Day, a couple of friends and I handed out healthy snacks and drinks to students after school. It brought so much joy to my classmates and drew attention to how the foods we eat affect our energy, learning, sports and extracurriculars.

Another event we held was on Halloween, where we shared information about the CounterAct Tobacco campaign. CounterAct Tobacco works to update retail licensing laws in Oklahoma to hold Big Tobacco accountable for targeting youth. At the event, we passed out candy while informing people about the dangerous effects of tobacco use. We also collected surveys so we could share community opinions with state lawmakers. This was one of the first YAHL events I participated in during high school. It was memorable and my favorite event because we got a lot of attention and people truly wanted to listen to what we had to say.

YAHL has empowered me and given me a voice to talk about these issues with those around me. More recently, I spoke to my city council about CounterAct Tobacco and what they can do to help us protect our community. I hope that by educating people in my community, I can play a role in making Oklahoma a healthier place.

My name is My, and I’m from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL) is a youth-led program that highlights the factors and byproducts in choices related to health. Health doesn’t discriminate against anyone; it affects everyone and everything living. My health teacher suggested that I join YAHL to expand my knowledge about health. As I continue my journey in YAHL, I’ve learned more about current health issues in Oklahoma and the impact of my actions in my community. People are always thankful to learn about and understand their health, or the health of their loved ones, through the education YAHL provides. Educating people about health is the pivotal first step toward understanding it. YAHL is part of this stepping stone and gives teens opportunities to connect with the community through various outlets.

With the continuous growth of technology, we are exposed to media at an exponential rate. As technology grows, so does our understanding and knowledge of current health information. Health information, like other information, spreads quickly on social media, where anyone can share medical advice. These self-proclaimed professionals often take bits and pieces of the whole picture to mislead, misguide and ultimately misinform vulnerable audiences for profit. Blogs from YAHL websites—CounterAct Tobacco, Elevate Student Health and Youth Action for Health Leadership—are designed to provide credible stories and lessons about the importance of health.

During my time with YAHL, I was encouraged to write blogs. One of my pieces was even featured in The Oklahoman. This recognition showed me the impact my stories can have on my community. Writing these blogs is a personal journey, helping me share my experiences while building my confidence, especially regarding my health struggles such as weight loss and the effects of tobacco. Additionally, my testimonies about our campaigns have empowered me to speak out about the decisions made by officials, both good and bad. By sharing our stories, we can inspire change and support one another in our journey toward better health and understanding.

Writing blogs on my own may not make a significant impact, but by reaching out to news outlets and using my social media to share my journey, I can touch lives beyond my immediate community. I envision my stories as the first steps toward writing for academic journals.

By sharing my experiences with the world, I can inspire others to share their narratives. Blogging is a powerful form of storytelling—anyone can do it, and it can provide a sense of anonymity for those who wish to share their truths without revealing their identities. Today, we focus on overcoming adversity; tomorrow, we may pave the way for transformative research. Together, our voices can create a tapestry of shared experiences that encourages understanding and healing.

Hi, my name is Juliana and I’m from Chickasha, Oklahoma. YAHL is an amazing program where we can talk about unhealthy foods and the impact they have on your life and well-being. In YAHL we work together to improve physical activity, increase access to healthy foods and provide clean drinking water in schools. YAHL is the type of program where you can motivate and inspire others to overcome their bad habits. Two very unhealthy things that people around me have been doing for years are smoking and vaping. It is a very big problem for teens in Oklahoma. It hurts me to see them risk their education by using these products.

Smoking is very bad because it can cause cancer, heart disease, stroke and lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). YAHL members work very hard to help children, teens and adults create a healthier Oklahoma. YAHL works to combat this issue by strengthening laws to protect our community from Big Tobacco companies. Preemption prevents communities from enacting tobacco ordinances that are stricter than state law. I am passionate about closing the loophole so that local communities can protect residents from the harms of tobacco.

The tobacco industry tells us that vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, but we still don’t know the extent of the damage it can cause to your body. E-cigarettes heat nicotine, which is extracted from tobacco, and combine it with flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Vapes can also cause deadly cancers, other deadly diseases and even infections in your lungs like popcorn lung. I know a lot of people vape because of anxiety, overwhelming times or from seeing their parents or guardians vape. YAHL works to protect these youth by making sure they cannot access these products.

I care about this issue because I see it affecting a lot of people’s lives in bad ways. I see my friends dropping out of school because they are going down the wrong paths that start with vaping and smoking. I want to see fewer teens using these products so they can thrive academically and mentally. We need to hold the tobacco industry accountable by restricting what type of advertising they can do. By limiting advertising with lots of colors and references to candy flavors we can decrease the influence of the tobacco industry on our youth. Additionally, by requiring more warning labels on nicotine products we can hopefully reduce the use of tobacco. I am looking forward to meeting with community organizations to educate them about these issues so YAHL can gain more support in achieving these goals.

Hello! My name is Mary, and I’m from Haskell, Oklahoma. YAHL is a program that focuses on making Oklahoma healthier for everyone. Health is one of the most important things in our lives; however, not everyone has the same access to good health. I see people in my community struggle with poor nutrition and obesity. I live in a rural area with limited access to grocery stores. If you don’t have a car, you can only grocery shop at the dollar store, where most of the food is unhealthy and ultra-processed. My family usually has to drive at least 30 minutes to get groceries. This reduces the number of options we have and ultimately impacts our health. That’s why I’m passionate about YAHL. I want to make sure all youth have the opportunity to live a healthy life by ensuring they have access to nutritious food in school.

At our first YAHL event, I collected surveys at a basketball tournament. I was nervous to talk to adults, but it was great seeing people in the community who also care about these issues. I really enjoy working with YAHL because I feel supported by my community, and my work is recognized and impactful. Through YAHL, I’ve learned how to use my voice to push for change. I’ve become more involved in my community and learned about the power I have to make a difference. Companies have convinced us teens that vaping is trendy, but it’s harmful to our health. They’ve spent so much money manipulating us into thinking vaping is cool, and I want to fight back by making it harder for youth to access vapes.

YAHL helped me realize I can do something about these issues through advocacy. It has educated me on the problems we face and the importance of improving the laws that affect our health. I care about making good health accessible because I’m empathetic and hate seeing people struggle. I want to see people improve their lives and their health. YAHL has given me a platform to help my community reach those goals.

Hello! My name is Kaydence, and I’m from Lula, Oklahoma. YAHL (Youth Action for Health Leadership) is a program where we discuss how unhealthy foods and activities affect everyday life. In YAHL, we learn what’s unhealthy, how to avoid harmful habits and how they impact us in the long run. It’s an amazing program where you can encourage and help others overcome unhealthy habits. Sometimes, you might even need encouragement from peers, family or fellow YAHL members. One of the best parts of YAHL is how fun it is to learn new things that help us live healthier lives.

Two unhealthy trends I’ve noticed in my generation are smoking and vaping. These are major problems among teens in Oklahoma. Smoking leads to dangerous habits, false hope and lung cancer, which is fatal. Lung cancer, shortness of breath and even heart attacks are caused by smoking, and unfortunately, many teens suffer the consequences. Many young people don’t realize how serious it is until it’s too late.

Vaping is just as dangerous. When you vape, you inhale metal and harmful chemicals directly into your lungs. That’s metal in your lungs! Over time, vaping causes infections, lung disease and even cancer. Many teens start vaping because they’re anxious, overwhelmed or influenced by family and friends who do it.

YAHL members work together to help kids, teens and adults break free from unhealthy habits and make better choices. We do this by organizing stress-free activities that help people manage stress in healthier ways, offering words of encouragement to inspire positive change, and building trust through team exercises that create a strong support system. As a YAHL member, I truly believe this program can help you. Even if you don’t struggle with these issues yourself, you can still join to support others and be part of something bigger.

I’ve shared some of the biggest health challenges teens face today, and I hope to see these numbers go down. If we work together, we can help teens across Oklahoma and even in other states overcome these addictions and create a healthier future. YAHL members are coming together for this cause, and I encourage you to join us. Together, we can make a real difference and help those around us live healthier, happier lives.

Hello, my name is Lilly, and I am a sophomore at Chelsea High School in Oklahoma. During my first year in Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL), I thought it was just an excuse to get out of class for free food and to miss school. However, this program turned out to be an amazing experience. I realized that YAHL is more than just an extracurricular activity—it is an opportunity for people like me who want to make a difference and help others.

Honestly, I know a lot of people who vape and smoke. Yes, I have tried to tell them that it will affect them later in life, but I felt like I didn’t have the means to truly help my community fight this issue until I became a YAHL member. YAHL is committed to creating a healthier Oklahoma for everyone, regardless of age, gender, race or religion. There are two campaigns: Elevate Student Health and CounterAct Tobacco. I love collecting surveys and playing health-related games with people during campaign events because it gives me the chance to bond with others and help them better understand the dangers of a poor diet or using tobacco products.

If we make it harder for kids to access vapes and cigarettes, they are less likely to become addicted as youth and less likely to use them as adults. Others in the YAHL community may learn new things and overcome their own unhealthy habits by helping those in need. People in my community can come together to support one another and combat unhealthy habits that affect their everyday lives.

I care about helping reduce obesity because I want all of Oklahoma’s youth to live active, healthy lives. I want to see our schools support this goal by offering more nutritious food options and increasing exercise standards. We can achieve these goals by talking to our school board members and principals and explaining the importance of learning healthy habits.