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Lauren Hickey was a vegetarian since seven years old. She stated, \u201cAs my mother tells it, one day I looked up from my dinner plate and blurted \u2018Mommy, what\u2019s this made out of?\u2019 \u2026 When my mother so gently explained that the meat I was eating was once an animal, I was suddenly alarmed and upset. I simply couldn\u2019t understand how I would eat something dead that I coo at and cuddle with alive\u2026 As a second grader, I soon realized that although being different took a dose of courage, it was strangely thrilling \u2026 Since seven years old, I have unwaveringly abided to my principles\u2026 In third grade, I stood in front of my enrichment class, beaming as I enlightened them on my area of expertise: vegetarianism… After presenting my slideshow to the class, my mom and little sister strolled into the classroom on cue with samples of mangos and hummus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lauren joined the Colchester Board of Education as a student member in 2014. She states, \u201cTwo years ago I initiated a Farm to School program in my town and established our high school\u2019s first organic garden. Colchester\u2019s Farm to School Initiatives is a program that reaches every school in the district with fresh vegetables from local farms and multiple school gardens. I initiated a weekly program at the intermediate school in which I teach a weekly class of 39 students in grades 3-5 about fresh food and environmental consciousness. I wrote and received a grant for fruit trees that the kids planted in the spring. I helped coordinate collaboration between the AP Biology students who took a field trip to the elementary school, where the second graders taught THEM how to compost.\u201d <\/p>\n
When teaching the third to fifth graders, \u201cIt moved my heart to hear a student tell me that he wants to save the environment and all the animals. I was filled with joy when every kid jumped out of their seat with both hands in the air when I asked, \u2018So who liked the kale?\u2019 I even teared up watching the kids take enormous pride in planting trees with their own hands that will bear fruit for generations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy vegetarian journey began when I was 7 years old when I\u2026 realized that I could not agree with killing animals\u2026 I have made a conscious effort to frame my vegetarian mission in a very positive way rooted in encouragement\u2026\u201d When I was in fifth grade, I wrote an essay for the Connecticut Higher Education Trust on my future career goals and how college would help me achieve them. I declared I would become an \u2018animal activist.\u2019 In retrospect, I was not too far off the mark. I plan on going to college and majoring in Environmental Studies\u2026 In college and beyond, I plan on promoting vegetarianism by engaging in an environmental or animal activism club, working in the organic garden, and ensuring dining hall food promotes values\u2026 Maybe one day I will live out my 5th grade dream of giving speeches around the world.\u201d <\/p>\n
The deadline for the next Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship for graduating high school seniors is February 20, 2017. For details, go to http:\/\/www.vrg.org\/student\/scholar.htm<\/a><\/p>\n To support Vegetarian Resource Group internships and scholarships, donate at www.vrg.org\/donate<\/a><\/p>\n