I’ve been a vegetarian for about a year and a half now, and I can proudly say that it’s one of my favorite things about myself. I can remember hearing about vegetarians when I was little, but I never thought I’d become one. Sure, I loved animals as much as any other little kid, but eating meat was part of daily life, and I didn’t see anything morally wrong with the consumption of animals. In my senior year of high school, I started thinking about vegetarianism more and more. I’m not exactly sure why, but it just started to become something that was on my mind more often. I started to think of it was something that I could do instead of something that other people did. But I didn’t become vegetarian just yet. I didn’t have enough information; I didn’t have enough reasons; I didn’t have enough freedom.
College, however, provided me with all of those things! At a Students for Environmental Awareness meeting one night in the fall of my freshman year, a guest speaker asked how many of us were vegetarians. I was baffled by how many people raised their hands. I had never before linked environmentalism with vegetarianism, but the connection between the two is strong. After doing some research, I found out that nearly all environmental issues, as well as other major problems could be solved if we all ate less meat. Just a bit of research convinced me that animal agriculture is a main contributor to air pollution, water pollution, water waste, deforestation, world hunger, antibiotic resistant disease, and climate change. These were things I cared about. These were problems I couldn’t let myself continue to perpetrate. Even if I couldn’t find it in me to overcome the socialization that left me with an emotional inability to connect the animals that I loved with the dead ones on my plate, I had no trouble finding other reasons to give up meat-eating abruptly and confidently. If you’d like more information on the countless harmful effects of animal agriculture, I highly recommend watching Cowspiracy. (I promise this is not one of those terrible documentaries where they show you animals being tortured.)
Vegetarianism isn’t nearly as difficult as you’d imagine. In fact, I’ve recently cut a good number of dairy products out of my diet as well. After you get through your first round of meatless holidays, it’s exceptionally easy. It’s even easier if two of your best friends gladly show you the ropes of meatless eating. (Thanks Kate. Thanks Zil.) Although I can’t point out any difference in the way I feel physically since becoming vegetarian, I’m finally living in line with my values, and that feels pretty good. I’m not sure I’ll ever do anything great with my time on Earth; I’m not particularly sure I want to. However, I do know that I don’t want to spend my life taking part in practices and contributing to industries that I don’t agree with. I refuse to spend my life stifling my compassion for the Earth, for animals, and most of all, for other humans. I refuse to not think critically about the consequences of my personal choices. Becoming a vegetarian is one of the best choices I’ve ever made, and I encourage everyone to at least give it a try. Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about vegetarianism! I’d love to help spread the veggie love.