Missouri Smoking Ban

http://www.ultimatefortbend.com/stories/7852-smoking-outlawed-in-missouri-city-bars

"Missouri City approved the tough final details of its new no-smoking ordinance Tuesday, banning smoking for both existing and new bars, hotel rooms and meeting areas, and including another change expected to cut smoking in outdoor restaurant patios as well."

Being a resident of Missouri all my life and nearing my 21^st birthday this is GREAT news! I have opened the doors to bar before and have been engulfed by smoke.  I have had times where I am unable to see my friends across the room because of all the smoke in the room.   I am sure everyone knows the feeling of going home late at night and not wanting to get into bed with out showering because you wreak like smoke.  It is not my place to tell someone not to smoke.  I have no idea what that addiction is like.  I do feel that I have every right to enjoy a smokeless environment.  My mom is very sensitive to smoke so attending a bar is out of the question.  I do not see this fair that some one else’s addiction will affect someone’s social life. 

As much as this ban is great it is a little surprising.  I feel that not more than a couple of years ago smoking and drinking in a bar were the only things to do.  I do not feel that having to go outside to get that quick smoke break in is asking that much from people.  Step outside, smoke, and walk back into a smoke free environment.  Who knows maybe during the winter time the coldness will keep them inside, and hey, who knows, may make some people quit smoking. 

In my opinion, smoking around people in a closed area is a little rude.   There are not only the short term affects that come with it, but long term as well.  Not to be dramatic but attending bars that allow smoking for multiple years to your life could cause some second hand smoke issues.   Although smokers are not doing it to be rude, they are affecting the people around them.  I have been mid conversation, inhaled a little smoke, and hacked up a storm.  It is a vicious chain reaction, so the best solution is to ban it. HA.

This ban could not have come at a better time.  I will be turning 21 in May of this year and by that time almost all bars in downtown St. Louis will be under the effect of this new ban.  I am so excited to enjoy a smoke free legal environment I can barely hold back all my excitement!

I have yet to experience the smoke-free environment of a bar, but over break I went to a smoke-free bowling alley.  It was awesome! I was able to enjoy my time, see my friends from across the room, and crawl straight into bed when I got home.  I woke up the next morning and my room did not stink.

This was something that I read and was excited about.  I hope this blog does not offend any smokers that read this.  This has nothing to do with people that smoke just the smell that comes with it. 

What to do with 500 words?

I’ll discuss my new found appreciation for Missouri Southern and small colleges.

In August 2008 I stepped onto Missouri Southern’s campus.  My main reason for attending Missouri Southern was to play soccer.  My first semester was a little rough.  College was nothing that I had envisioned.  I pictured freedom and parties, boy was I wrong.  Playing a sport in college eliminated both of those quickly.  I showed up two weeks before school even began for two weeks of preseason.  That whole week was nothing but eat, sleep, soccer.  Going out, home, or relaxing was out of the question.  I would get phone calls from my friends talking about their campus and all the activities and social events they were attending.  I felt tied down and in no way free.  I tried convincing my parents to let me transfer after the first year, but they were not having it.  By the end of my sophomore year I realized the only thing I really liked about my school was the girls on my soccer team, and I still felt like I was missing out on the “true” college experience.  After two years of begging my parents reluctantly allowed me to transfer to nowhere else but MIZZOU!!  I told my coaches and said my goodbyes before summer 2010 came.  Around the end of June I realized I may just be making the biggest mistake of my life.  I had taken everything that I had been given for granted.  I was given the opportunity to play soccer for my job during college.  I was introduced to twenty-four of my best friends.  I had small class sizes where teachers actually knew my name and I was not just another number.  I was able to walk across campus and be shocked if I did not see any one I knew, instead of shocked if I saw someone I knew.  I built friendships with people in my classes because I was not in a class room with four hundred people.  I decided early July to go back to Missouri Southern and make the best of it.  My junior year has by far been the best year for me in college.  Everything I hated before I cannot get enough of.  I have built friendships that will last forever and memories that not everyone gets to experience.  What really sealed the deal that I made the right decision happened last week.  I called up my friend at Mizzou and she told me about how they had 10 inches of snow on the ground, and I was for sure that classes for her would get canceled the next day.  That next morning I woke up to two inches of snow on the ground and no school, while she woke up to 12 inches of snow and a full day of academics.  If you do not love Missouri Southern after that one I do not know what would convince you! I try to live my life with no regrets and learn from every experience, but if I would have gone through with the transfer to Mizzou it would by far have been my biggest regret so far.    

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My name is Shannon Kuhn. I am a junior biology major hoping to attend graduate school and receive my doctorate of Chiropractic in August of 2012.   I am on the women's soccer team at MSSU and loving every minute of it! I'm not the best writer, but I will try my hardest!