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Christie Faling, a member of the Class of 2010 of Christopher High School, beamed as she accepted a $500 scholarship from the Illinois Sheriffs' Association.
The award was presented by Capt. Don Jones of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, and Faling said the money would be used wisely as she pursues a degree in music education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Jones said the annual scholarship received a number of applicants.
"We got applications from all of the high schools in the county," he said. "A committee of us reviewed all of the applications, and that included an essay as part of the application process. We select the winner based on academic achievement, community involvement, financial need and the written essay.
"Christie's essay was the deciding factor in our decision because we felt that she most effectively responded to the questions asked."
Faling elected to write about the use of medicinal marijuana, calling it damaging.
"One of the biggest problems locally and nationally is drug abuse," she wrote. "Marijuana, at least around Southern Illinois, is the drug of choice for most people. Despite what some people have forgotten, it is in fact illegal and for good reason. Marijuana should not be legalized for medicinal use or otherwise.
"The only medicinal use for it is to numb pain," Faling said. "However, there are plenty of other drug prescriptions that can do the same job, if not a better job. Furthermore, if it was legal to grow a certain amount of marijuana, people would simply say that it was for a medical purpose and abuse it anyway."
Marijuana slows reaction and impairs senses, she wrote.
"Think about what would happen if one were to drive while under the influence of marijuana," Faling said. "A user might hit something or even someone and not even realize that they should stop and see if all is well."
Faling said the drug also affects a person's lungs.
"Smoke of any kind is not meant to be in the lungs," she wrote. "They were not designed to hold anything but oxygen for an extended amount of time. The smoke from marijuana is even worse than the smoke from cigarettes, as it is more likely to cause cancer."
She said marijuana also affects the heart by speeding up the heart rate exponentially.
Christie Faling, a member of the Class of 2010 of Christopher High School, beamed as she accepted a $500 scholarship from the Illinois Sheriffs' Association.
The award was presented by Capt. Don Jones of the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, and Faling said the money would be used wisely as she pursues a degree in music education from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Jones said the annual scholarship received a number of applicants.
"We got applications from all of the high schools in the county," he said. "A committee of us reviewed all of the applications, and that included an essay as part of the application process. We select the winner based on academic achievement, community involvement, financial need and the written essay.
"Christie's essay was the deciding factor in our decision because we felt that she most effectively responded to the questions asked."
Faling elected to write about the use of medicinal marijuana, calling it damaging.
"One of the biggest problems locally and nationally is drug abuse," she wrote. "Marijuana, at least around Southern Illinois, is the drug of choice for most people. Despite what some people have forgotten, it is in fact illegal and for good reason. Marijuana should not be legalized for medicinal use or otherwise.
"The only medicinal use for it is to numb pain," Faling said. "However, there are plenty of other drug prescriptions that can do the same job, if not a better job. Furthermore, if it was legal to grow a certain amount of marijuana, people would simply say that it was for a medical purpose and abuse it anyway."
Marijuana slows reaction and impairs senses, she wrote.
"Think about what would happen if one were to drive while under the influence of marijuana," Faling said. "A user might hit something or even someone and not even realize that they should stop and see if all is well."
Faling said the drug also affects a person's lungs.
"Smoke of any kind is not meant to be in the lungs," she wrote. "They were not designed to hold anything but oxygen for an extended amount of time. The smoke from marijuana is even worse than the smoke from cigarettes, as it is more likely to cause cancer."
She said marijuana also affects the heart by speeding up the heart rate exponentially.
"All in all, the argument to legalize marijuana is a futile attempt so the users will no longer have to face the consequences," Faling wrote.
Other activities keep her involved when Faling is not writing essays.
"I received the Esprit de Corps award for band," she said. "That award is for the most spirited band member and for leadership."
The clarinet player has participated in the Heartland Honors band for the past four years, and participated in the Illinois Music Education Association for the first time this year.
Faling received a choral award for exceptional effort at Christopher High School and is also has a volunteer spirit.
"I helped with the American Red Cross blood drives two times a year for the past four years," she said. "I worked with the annual Special Olympics track and field events in Carbondale for three years and have been involved with Skills and Drills. I helped those with special needs play basketball once a year for the past two years."
Helping to keep Christopher streets clean is another project, Faling said.
"I have helped with Christopher's clean-up known as the Trash Bash for the past three years," she said. "During my freshman year, a group of us from Herrin Church of Christ went to Mississippi to help after Hurricane Katrina hit. We were there for six days."
A member of the National Honor Society for three years, Faling said she participated in the annual walk-a-thon for Cystic Fibrosis for two years.
"I also volunteered during Red Ribbon Drug Free week for two years," she said.
Faling's extracurricular activities included band, choir for two years, the drama club for two years and the school newspaper "Cat Tracks" for two years.
She hopes to get a job on campus after starting her next educational step at SIUC.
