I go to a large state college in the Midwest U.S. I have noticed that as I walk to and from classes, at any time of the morning or day, I am invariably behind one or several smokers, and I am in the "lucky" position to inhale the foul clouds they leave trailing behind them. Its enough incentive to sweat and walk faster in order to overtake them for a chance at a lungful of clean air. The amount of smokers in my age group is astonishing. Why so many?

What I've been wondering of late is this: why, with everything we know about cigarettes in our generation, why do my peers seem to take to the nasty and deadly habit with such abandon? Everyone knows cigarettes cause cancer. If it is a matter of their apathy toward this fact, I think this represents an alarming sentiment that may be infecting my generation, and one that should be addressed. Is smoking still looked at as something to make the user seem more cool and grown up? How can ignoring your health be grown up? How can poor hygiene be cool?

Why does my generation, now at the peak of their youth (20-25 years old) and supposed vitality, embrace a substance that causes fatigue, poor respiratory performance, wrinkles, yellowed teeth, and an all-encompassing stench that seems to follow them and their belongings? Why would they not instead put as much money into organics and a healthful lifestyle that prolongs this age?

I am open to all opinions that might shed some light on to the self-induced plight of my fellows.