Every time I tell someone I am a vegetarian, I can see the look on their face change. The look is something between "why" and "is she going to try to recruit me into her cult?" It's mostly disbelief as if there is no way someone could possibly commit to this kind of lifestyle. After the initial confusion the questions follow, "Why would you do that?" "For how long have you been one?" "How could you possibly go through with such a thing?" And then the last remark follows, "I could never do it."

Probably the most important thing to know is that just because I decided to cut meat out of my diet does not mean that I expect you to do the same and that my sole purpose in my life is to have everyone eat salads. It's something that I strongly believe in, but I do not believe in forcing my opinion upon others. Let them make their own decisions.

I personally have wanted to be a vegetarian for the longest time, but my parents wouldn't let me because I was a difficult eater. A couple weeks before I turned 18, I moved out of the house to attend college. Along with this transition I decided to become a full-time vegetarian as well. At this point, I had already been successful at cutting a large part of meat consumption out of my diet, but it would be the first time that I would stop eating it completely. Once I stopped, I have never felt compelled to eat meat again.

Yes, people have offered me meat this past year and asked me if I could just make an exception "this one time." It's not that I couldn't make the exception, it's just that I don't want to. I made a decision and I am going to stick with it. To me, it's not about anyone finding out I ate meat while I am supposedly a vegetarian that keeps me from eating it, it's about honoring my own decision. Also, I feel very strongly about the meat industry and am glad I am not participating in it.

Often, I have heard that one person is not going to change the entire meat industry and that the meat that's in the store is already from slaughtered animals, so why not eat it? The answer is very clear to me: if you want to change the world, start with yourself. I believe it would be hypocritical if I keep proclaiming how much I hate the meat industry and everything it does and stands for while I keep eating their product. My abstinence might not change the industry, but it's a start. Plus a lot of those animals might already have been slaughtered, but you have to think about the future animals. It might be too late for a lot of them right now, but if we create a lesser demand then it change in the future.

Furthermore, I have an unpopular opinion: I don't like the taste of meat. So being a vegetarian has always been a breeze. While other people couldn't imagine ever being able to taste meat again, it's a thought that comforts me. It was always forced upon me and I never enjoyed it. If you despise carrots and you have the option to never eat it ever again in your entire life — and let's say it helps the bunny initiative you so strongly support — why wouldn't you do it.

I might be a vegetarian, but I certainly do not expect everyone to become one. I do, however, call upon you to be conscious about what you eat. And please, do not harass poor vegetarians with your unsolicited advice about what we should and shouldn't eat. We wouldn't want to do the same to you.