Montana youth take their tobacco free message to college

Shelby Brookie is a recipient of the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention $5,000 Collegiate Scholarship. Shelby has been a member of reACT from 2012-2016 and the club’s Vice President. reACT is Montana’s teen-led movement against Big Tobacco. reACT joins statewide youth empowerment movements across the country in recognizing the power of young people to effectively take on the leading cause of preventable death: commercial tobacco use.

In her hometown of Malta, Shelby has become an active agent of change. Her youth group has put on many activities for students to participate in. Some of the highlights of her years in reACT were “arranging a kickball event with the youth at the Boys and Girls Club. Each club member made a pledge to not use tobacco products.“ She chalked outlines of tobacco victims on sidewalls at the high school for Red Ribbon Week, and played trivia with tobaccos facts. She attended Malta Parks and Recreation meetings and City meetings to encourage the installments of no smoking signs in the parks and along the trails of the city of Malta. On Friday nights she helped host a safe event for high schoolers to hang out and stay out of trouble. “We play games, watch movies, and promote healthy choices.”

Shelby has seen how Montana’s Clean Indoor Air Act has affected her. “I have asthma and allergies that are triggered by second hand smoking. I can safely go into any business in Montana, any school, and most parks without worrying about being exposed to the dangerous effects of tobacco.”

As a leader she hopes to bring more awareness to the dangers of smoking and chewing to her peer crowd. “Many teenagers are pressured into trying tobacco products. I tell teens to stand their ground and do research before making bad decisions. Just because we are young doesn’t mean we are dumb. Be bigger than big tobacco!”

Shelby is attending Montana State University - Northern this fall. In July of 2016, Montana State University – Northern joined 11 other Montana Collegiate campus’ in adopting a tobacco free campus policy which provide a safe and healthy environment free from tobacco use for its students, employees and visitors. She hopes to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Community Leadership. “When I was a child I always felt the need to connect with others; a need to make a positive influence in someone else’s life. As I continue to grow and be inspired by others, I hope to make a difference in the lives of peers and strangers.”