Did you know that 50 million teenagers worldwide smoke or vape? I sure didn’t! I discovered this when I researched an essay for 8th grade. We could write about whatever we wanted, and I was inspired to write about nicotine addiction. Tobacco, a well-known ingredient in cigarettes, has thousands of chemicals, and nearly 70 of them are carcinogens (cancer-causing). Smokeless tobacco or vapes include many of the same ingredients as cigarettes. Smoking can cause lots of health problems like cancer, diabetes, vision loss, hearing loss, stroke and dental problems. On top of that, smokers smell like cigarettes all the time! Ew. In addition to everything I learned about how smoking is harmful, I also learned about the healing process that takes place when people quit smoking. All of this research into smoking, especially the impact it has on the brain and the body, fascinated me. I learned that my passion was not convincing people not to smoke, but rather health itself.

In 9th grade I took my first biology class and was intrigued by the “bio” part — you know, the life part. I was intrigued by survival. I realize now that my 8th-grade essay research and my first biology course were simply extensions of my interests as a younger kid. When I was growing up at home with my dad, I got to see all sorts of medical work on-screen during his meetings. So I’ve been around medical talk all my life, from how the human mind and body works, to medicine, to healthy habits. When I discovered biology, my school life and home life blended together.

My parents gave these three guidelines to my brother and me:

1) Be a kind person

2) Be physically active

3) Find a career that helps humanity, such as a doctor, teacher, lawyer, nurse — anything that makes a useful difference

I know now that I want to have a career in the medical field. After I finished 9th grade in July 2024, I attended the MASH (Medical Academy of Science and Health) Camp at North Country Community College. Though I’d already learned CPR a couple of years ago, we reviewed that and practiced with different “victims” such as a baby, child and adult. We also learned chest compressions, mouth-to-mouth, and how to use the AED (Automatic External Defibrillator). Then, we had to complete a multiple-choice test. We also learned how to stop minor and major bleeding, stitch wounds, what equipment is standard in an ambulance, and how those devices work. I appreciated learning what being a nurse and an EMT were like and how important those roles are.

There was room for 20 people to attend MASH Camp, but we were a small group of eight. I wonder why more kids my age aren’t interested in medicine. I believe that what I study and what I want to achieve will impact the future of healthcare, however few young people are interested in professions such as physician, surgeon, or even dentist. This is a problem. We need as many health professionals as we can get.

Well, at least I know I will be able to make a difference. I’m proud to be part of the solution.

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Anika Mian is a 10th grader at Lake Placid High School and graduate of North Country School.