FELIX Lamorena just had one of the best summers of his life.

The 25-year-old Fil-Am from Norwalk, Calif., was selected as one of the 14 young adults from across the country to serve as "truth" crew members for its annual summer tour.

Most of these crew members have experienced the harmful effects of tobacco use in their own families, from asthma to terminal cancer. The crew members all share a passion to share facts with their peers so they make an informed choice about tobacco use.

More than 1,400 young people submitted applications for a spot on the tour and a chance to become involved in the life-saving cause of tobacco use prevention. The 14 selected crew members, two of whom are Asian American, represented a cross-section of the types of youth that the truth tour encountered when it traveled the country from late June to late August.

"It was such a privilege to be a part of the team," Lamorena told the Asian Journal a couple of days after the tour wrapped up.

Lamorena was just browsing online when he came across a casting call ad. He wasted no time and submitted his application. They were later told that more than 1,400 young adults applied for an opportunity to be a part of the tour.

When he found out that he was chosen, Lamorena was ecstatic. "I had a chance to do something I’ve been seeing on TV, and I’ve been reading in the papers before. I knew I had a chance to make a difference somehow," he shared.

Youth smoking is one thing that strikes quite close to home.

When Lamorena was growing up, he had an older brother who was a smoker. To this day, that brother still smokes. "He slowed down a bit, maybe because of my incessant reminders. Or maybe he’s just getting old," Felix said.