Some people are just good at 'long, cylindrical ash' (usually people who forget they are smoking and just keep their hand still for far too long (often drunk people).

Protip: If you uncurl a paperclip (cut it in half with scissors [which is difficult and will ruin the school's scissors]), and then insert it into the center of your (no-doubt) clove cigarette (or whatever was in fashion when you were a teenager reading Anne Rice [it had to be cloves, right?!]), it is a cool, secret way to be more successful with your surprisingly long-ash game. Just remember not to tap it when anyone is around, and your secret is safe. "Mischief managed."