A proud vegetarian. (Vegetarian Journal's 2002 Essay Winners).

FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, I have been a vegetarian. Ever since I was a little girl, it seems my parents have come home from work every Friday, carrying brown bags filled with vegetables and fruits from the farm market. It has always been my job to then stock the fridge, every week, with the food for the upcoming week. Precisely at seven, my mother begins to cook the dinner every night, and the wonderful aroma of curry leaves and tomatoes boiling in water with a myriad of other spices, wafts through the house. These are a few of the many things that, now, make me proud to be a vegetarian. Unfortunately, it wasn't always that way.

I clearly remember the day I sat down at the pale green table marked "first grade," with the rest of my friends. Laughing and giggling, we each unwrapped our sandwiches and looked around to see if there was anyone willing to trade. One girl leaned across the table and stretched out her hand. "You wanna trade?" she asked.

"Um, what's in yours?" I gingerly inquired.

"Bologna," she replied. "You?"

"Tomato and cheese, but I don't eat meat, so I can't trade with you." I still remember the look on her face. It was a mixture of puzzlement and contempt.

"You don't eat meat?! Why not?"

I remember turning red and then mumbling something about my culture and being nice to animals. She leaned over to the girl sitting next to her and whispered something in her ear while pointing at me at the same time. And then it seemed as though everyone at the table had that same look of scorn and bewilderment. At that point I wished that the cafeteria floor would just open and swallow me whole.

Unfortunately, it didn't and I was forced to sit where I was, bombarded with questions about why I was so different. Sinking lower and lower into my chair, I thought about the same thing everyone else was, "Why was I vegetarian?"

One of the many aspects of Hinduism is vegetarianism. Being a Hindu, I am also vegetarian. There are many reasons why I follow this tradition, and here are some of them.

The cow is a very sacred animal to Hindus all over the world. There is a belief in the Hindu religion that God resides in everyone, all creatures, both great and small.

Animals should be able to live their lives without the brutality, cruelty, and death caused by humans. Killing animals for food is a form of violence. I am a strong believer in peace and harmony. Therefore, killing animals for food or sport is against my beliefs.

Studies show that being on a vegetarian diet can cut the risk of cancer by 50%, reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke, prevent and actually reverse diabetes, and reduce obesity and the risk of heart disease. Therefore, being a vegetarian keeps me healthy and fit.

Eating meat affects the environment adversely. Forests are cut down to make room for more cattle. People kill the homes and habitats of millions of animals just so they can eat the food they want. Getting the nutrition I need without slaughtering other living creatures makes me happy and content because I live in harmony with nature.

Although being a vegetarian may seem like a fashion statement to some, it is truly a way of life for me. I no longer am embarrassed about being a vegetarian, and I have no problem telling others I am one. I was brought up a vegetarian and will continue to be one throughout the course of my life. My first grade experience has taught me that while I may be unique from many others in this world, it is something that I can be proud of, most definitely. I am glad that I can help the world in some way, however small it may be, and I am proud to be a vegetarian.

Sheela Krishnan, 13 yrs
Suffern, NY