While behind my camera today, young people at Jenks East Elementary School gave me a reason to take my eye off of the viewfinder and smile about the future.
Jenks High School students encouraged Jenks East Elementary schoolers to stay free from drugs, smoking, alcohol, bullying.
I found it quite refreshing.
Then, my refresher lost it's freshness when I began to think about adults, you know the ones who are supposed to influence these little people.
The main emphasis was on smoking. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 45.3 million people, or 19.3% of all adults in the United States, smoke cigarettes.
And for those who feel there's no danger in it. The CDCP says cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., accounting for some 443,000 deaths (or 1 of every 5 deaths) annually.
I'm young enough to know that these kids are wet behind their ears, in that they haven't been tempted with society's pressures to do some of these things. And I'm old enough to know that many adults, and even some school-aged young people smoke, drink, do drugs and the other focuses of the assembly. Perhaps, some who love them, teach them and raise them do these dangerous things.
However, there is no love like seeing, and not saying, what is right. Staying away from these things is healthier.
Today, I saw a refreshing, healthy future.
Jenks High School senior Richard Song does an exercise along with elementary students, during an assembly encouraging elementary students to avoid drugs, and other bad influences, during Red Ribbon Week, in the Jenks East Elementary School cafeteria, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012.
Jenks East Elementary School first-grader Isabella Kerr and other schoolmates laugh as Jenks High School students present an anti-drug assembly inside the elementary school cafeteria, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012.
Jenks High School senior Jessica Anderson cringes during a skit encouraging elementary students to avoid drugs, in a Red Ribbon Week assembly, in the Jenks East Elementary School cafeteria, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012.
Jenks East Elementary School first-grader Raeleigh Marshall and other schoolmates laugh as Jenks High School students present an anti-drug assembly inside the elementary school cafeteria, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012.
Jenks High School senior Lydia Getchell (left) does an exercise with elementary students, during an assembly that high schoolers encouraged elementary students to avoid drugs, and other bad influences, during Red Ribbon Week, in the Jenks East Elementary School cafeteria, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012.
Jenks East Elementary School third-grader Callan Eastman raises his hand as Jenks High School students present an anti-drug assembly inside the elementary school cafeteria, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012.
Jenks High School senior Kathryn Nixon does an exercise along with elementary students, during an assembly encouraging elementary students to avoid drugs, and other bad influences, during Red Ribbon Week, in the Jenks East Elementary School cafeteria, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012.
Jenks East Elementary School third-graders Callan Eastman (left) and Mark Duarte follow as Jenks High School students present an anti-drug assembly inside the elementary school cafeteria, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012.
Jenks High School students Richard Song (left) and Jake Griffin act out a skit, encouraging young people to stay off drugs and other bad influences, during Red Ribbon Week, in the Jenks East Elementary School cafeteria, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012.
Jenks High School senior Kathryn Nixon (center) and Sarah Steele (right) are hugged by an elementary students, during a Red Ribbon Week assembly, encouraging elementary students to avoid drugs, and other bad influences, in the Jenks East Elementary School cafeteria, on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012.
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