Face Value Campaign Speaks to Teen Girls
by Jennifer Pashley

Back in June 2002, a flier was handed out throughout Westchester County asking teen girls to try out for a commercial for Face Value, the county's new anti-smoking campaign for teen girls. I soon found myself walking into the auditorium of Peekskill High School, flier in hand, and scared as anything. I had never done a commercial before, but I thought, "what the heck." When the time came, I walked on stage, shook the producer's hand, and smiled, trying to make a good first impression.

"Why don't you smoke?" I was asked, the camera was pointing at my face. I stood silent for a while. It wasn't hard to think of an answer, it was difficult trying to find the right one. Smoking wrecks your appearance, completely empties your piggy-bank, and exposes your body to over 4000 chemicals! It ruins your voice, and causes cancer, lung disease, and even heart failure. And smoking is seriously addictive: nine out of ten teen smokers in New York State say they'll quit after high school, but five years after graduation, two-thirds are still hooked on cigarettes.

In a couple of days, I got home and found a message on my answering machine. It said that Face Value would love to cast me in the commercial, which was being shot in Boston. I honestly don't think I've ever found myself jumping up and down in my kitchen like that before!

The day finally came. I was nervous, but mostly excited. The first day, eight other girls and I got fitted for wardrobe. I made quick friends with all of them. It was hard work: we had to wake up at six in the morning to arrive at the set by seven, and we were under really hot lights for over two hours. But overall it was fun, and it was for a really great cause. Not only were we in a commercial, we also got our pictures taken for print ads that have been distributed throughout Westchester County.

So far, the Face Value ads have appeared on television stations like MTV, radio stations like Z100, and billboards around the county. I hope that teen girls who watch the commercial or see the print ads realize that they don't need to smoke to be happy or "cool." All they need to do is be themselves, because isn't that what life is all about?