My love and passion for animals and a just food system for all beings, started with my curious and animal loving 7-year-old self. As I ate chicken nuggets and burger patties, I began to question where exactly meat came from. I understood it came from an animal, but the process of the animal becoming food was still unclear to me. I began bombarding my parents with questions on where exactly meat came from, and after the realization of knowing I was eating an animal that I loved and didn’t want to die was all I needed to hear to vow to never eat another animal in my life. So, at the age of 7, I became a vegetarian completely on my own. Being further educated on the abuses that animals like hens and mother cows still faced in the egg and dairy industries, I became vegan at 13.
My successes within my animal and plant-based advocacy have come in significant ways compared to when I was a 9-year-old who collected funds to donate to animal sanctuaries. I lobbied on Capitol Hill to staffers of California senators and representatives on supporting bills expanding plant-based meals in K-12 schools. I was the head facilitator in groups meetings with U.S. Department of Agriculture providing them with student testimonies and limitations faced by the lack of plant-based options. In 2022 I published an op-ed in L.A. Weekly, speaking upon the importance of plant-based meals in schools. I believe one of my greatest successes in collaboration with other youth advocates was a youth started and led panel at the Animal and Vegan Advocacy (AVA) Summit. Myself along with three other youth leaders, orchestrated a panel titled, “How to Empower Youth in the Vegan Movement.”
After graduating from undergrad in political science, I envision myself going to law school to become a lawyer. There will never be a day where I question my veganism. I simply cannot ever envision myself feeling comfortable in taking the life of a sentient being for the justification of food. If my food choices can prevent me from being a direct supporter of abuses, then I will forever choose my plant-based life.
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Do you know an amazing student promoting veganism? If so, let them know about our annual scholarship contest. The deadline for high school seniors is February 20th of each year. To see scholarship rules and past winners, visit www.vrg.org/student/scholar