My journey to veganism started when I was thirteen. I remember searching the internet and casually coming across a slaughterhouse video and spending the night crying my eyes out in horror. I decided then and there to stop eating meat. Though my elimination of meat was gradual, I was completely vegetarian by age fourteen. It wasn't until I turned seventeen and made the connection with the dairy and egg industry that I went vegan. After over a year of being vegan, I have learned so much.

One, I am much more calm and relaxed since going vegan. Eating dead animal flesh means a lot of negative energy going into your body and, for most, a sense of guilt. Being vegan means I can confidently look into the eyes of any animal and feel completely at peace because, after all, a meat-eating animal lover is an oxymoron.

Two, my taste buds have changed significantly. Before going vegan, I almost never ate enough fruits and vegetables. Now that I am vegan, I love vegetables and will gladly cook them in large, colorful amounts with legumes and whole wheat pastas. I can proudly declare my favorite vegetable as broccoli, and I know I am receiving all of the nutrients I require on a daily basis just from those vegetables. Once you start eating vegetables, there is no going back.

Three, I see the world differently as a vegan. As an omnivore, I participated in activities that I now find entirely repulsive and shameful. For example, I went fishing once as a young girl. My father, my siblings, and I caught a fish and then released it back into the pond, and I thought I wasn't harming the fish. I didn't know that most fish never recover from the emotional and physical trauma of almost being killed. I didn't think about how the fish would feel after we released him back into the water with a gaping hole in his mouth, how it might kill him. I didn't question it. Now, simple activities like going to the zoo, visiting a farm, going to the circus, and fishing disturb me. I peacefully protest these events because they are wrong. No animal deserves captivity or to be exploited for any reason. I am happy that I see the truth finally and can respectfully inform others.

Finally, as a vegan, the only regret I have is that I didn't go vegan sooner. Veganism has improved my body, my mind, and my soul, and I cannot imagine a life without it. Every piece of bacon, every bowl of mac'n'cheese, every omelet--these will haunt me for the rest of my life. My only relief in these thoughts is that I am trying my best every day to make the world a better place for those around me, and that is the most all of us can ever do.