I want to send a big THANKS Emmet Belknap Middle Scool for the package of letters that came in the mail. I finished reading them this morning. Remember to not give up hope trying to get your famalies to quit.....Keep trying....

Let no feeling of discouragement prey upon you, and in the end you are sure to succeed. - Abraham Lincoln

I Believe... That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do love each other. I Believe... That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. I Believe... That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I Believe... That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love. I Believe... That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. I Believe... That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. I Believe... That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them. I Believe... That you can keep going long after you think you can't. I Believe... That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. I Believe... That either you control your attitude or it controls you. I Believe... That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences. I Believe... That money is a lousy way of keeping score. I Believe... That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time. I Believe... That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up. I Believe... That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel. I Believe... That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. I Believe... That it isn't always enough, to be forgiven by others. sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.. I Believe... That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief. I Believe... That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but, we are responsible for who we become. I Believe... That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life Forever. I Believe... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.. I Believe... That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you. I Believe... That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help. I Believe... That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. I Believe... That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

5/22/08.…. My last day of the school year…. OK.. I’m absolutely mentally and physically exhausted. I love going to the different schools but I’m so glad this school year is over. It has been a wonderful year with so many mile stones for me. I reached my one millionth student and have now been in over two thousand schools. I have received so many great letters that have truly help me stay focused and motivated. I can see the change taking place in how society looks at the tobacco industry. The change has been slow coming but it is happening. One of the hard things for me is to see so many of the adults that I have worked with in tobacco control leaving and moving on to a new chapter in their lives. I hate to see them go but people must do what they need to do that betters their lives and the lives of their families. I wish them all the best. To all the students I have spoken to… Thank You!! Thank you for giving me a chance to share my story and showing respect and compassion for Marie. As you go into your summer please keep in mind that you only get one shot at this life and you need to make sure the decisions you make are safe and healthy. Have a great summer and I’ll see you in the schools next year. Peace in your life, Rick Stoddard

5/4/08...Atlanta airport…. I left home at 2:30am to catch a flight to Louisiana. This is going to make for a long day. I’m really excited about going to Louisiana for the first time. Last week I spent three days in far upstate New York where I could actually see the Canadian border from my hotel room and the week before I spent a few days in South Dakota. WOW!!! I get to see so many places and meet so many people…pretty cool. My program just really seems to be getting more powerful by the day. The letters that are posted on the website really reflect that power. I am truly blessed to get to do what I do. The tobacco industry is still just relentless targeting kids and spewing their lies addicting our family members and taking the lives of far to many people. I’m glad to see so many young people that are not going to take it any more and are refusing to smoke that first cigarette or take that first mouthful of chew. Tobacco control without youth involved is hopeless so it is nice to see so many young people that are getting involved in their schools and communities.

4/10/08.…. 1,000,000 …..Marie's story has now reached 1,000,000 students. What a day!! Thank you to Cherry Valley Central School for such an awesome morning in your school!! Today has been like one of those days when your Mom cooks all day getting a really great smelling wonderful tasting meal ready….hours to cook and fifteen minutes to eat…LOL!! That’s sort of how today was… eight years and thousands of schools and in one hour it’s all behind you. I like the fact that there was no big media coverage. A few friends from across the state and the students and staff at the school. Very low key just like it has been for eight years and I like it that way!!

4/7/08.…. The schools have just been awesome lately. Thanks so much to Glens falls Middle school in New York last week for the amazing standing ovation. You guys blew me away!!! I’m in northern New Hampshire now looking out my hotel window at the snow covered mountains….beautiful!!! I’m trying not to think to much about Thursday and reaching the million mark but it is hard not to think about it. I really need to stay focused on my message and make sure I have the best impact I can in every school.

4/3/08.…. 6:00am…. The count down is on. One week to a goal that I was not sure I could meet. Next Thursday I will reach my one millionth person with Marie’s story. It has been a long seven plus years of traveling across the country. There have been times when I just wanted to stay home and just have a regular job but on most days I wouldn’t want to be or do anything else. I really do love sharing Marie’s story in schools. I’ve always known that I couldn’t impact everyone that heard the story but I do know that I have impacted a lot of people. One of the things that hurts me the most is to be away from my family SO much. There is no doubt that my entire family pays a price for what I do. I miss my grandson’s so much that it hurts………… I can not begin to thank the people who have helped me reach this goal. Without their hard work and commitment to reach the youth of America I would not be sitting here writing about reaching one million people. I am blessed and I am thankful.......................... A message to "we can stop this" .... The best thing youth can do to help is stand your ground and don't fall for the lies that the tobacco industry has been telling for generations. Tell your family and all your friends the things that you now know about tobacco and the tobacco industry. Spread the word. Be a part of a youth group that fights back... Reality Check, Voice, TRU, TATU, SADD.....join and fight the good fight....

3/28/08.…. It sure feels good to be back out on the road again. I’m so thankful to get to do what I do.

3/13/08.…. Well the exhaustion turned out to be a warning sign. I got very sick out on the road. I went to a walk-in doctor’s clinic in Indiana and was tested positive for the flu. I went to the schools for three days but just couldn’t do it any more. I had to cancel my schools and go home. This is the first time in all these years that I had to cancel for being sick. It took me two days to get home and by the time I did the flu had turned into a wicked sinus infection. I just couldn’t shake it and had to cancel the schools for the following week in New York. I was crushed that I had to cancel. After ten days on a strong anti-biotic I’m glad to say I’m finally better and ready to go again.