It’s your friend’s birthday party, everyone is sitting at a long table to eat, but you. An abundance of parents ask you numerous questions. How do you get your protein? Do you want to try this? Why are you vegan? You get flustered. The parents ask you the questions with a concerned face and a condescending tone. You experience this at every birthday party your friends have, no matter what age they turn. You awkwardly sit there waiting for everyone to finish eating, as multiple parents ask you the same questions repeatedly. Ever since I was four I have been vegan. My mom kept asking me to try certain animal products, and I always declined. One day I told her “Mommy why do you keep asking me to eat this food when you know I don’t like it”. My mom was stunned by what her four-year-old said. She then respected my wishes but then took me to the doctor anyway to make sure I was healthy. My doctor was confused as to why my mom would be concerned, she said “Most kids can’t eat their vegetables, but that’s all she eats!”. My family, however, did not have the same overjoyed reaction. A family member once told me “Nobody will ever date you if you keep eating so picky, no guy would ever like that”. I heard plenty of similar comments while growing up, but I remained vegan. As I grew older, I was scrutinized less for becoming vegan and started to embrace it. I started cooking plant-based meals at home to get the nutrients I need and doing something I enjoy. I even tried my first plant-based burger a few years ago, and really enjoyed it, and then learned how to make it at home. I stopped caring about what other people said because most of their kids were eating fried chicken and cheese pizzas. As veganism became more popular in society, restaurants started being more inclusive and plant-based. I get so overjoyed whenever I see a vegan section on the menu, let alone it is something I like to eat. My little cousin, Luca, was fascinated by my diet. He decided to follow suit and become vegan as well. I never told him to become vegan, and or even mentioned it to him, he liked the food I was eating and also felt healthier. Being vegan has made me feel much cleaner, and more cautious of what I put in my body. Veganism has helped with gut health, achieving health others only dream of having, just by cutting out animal products. Another benefit of being vegan is saving money. At restaurants and grocery stores, vegetarian options are way less expensive due to the absence of meat. Being vegan helps you save money and doctor visits. I plan to remain vegan for the rest of my life. Enjoying fruits and vegetables every single meal, and learning new plant-based recipes to cook for family and friends to enjoy. Several friends say “How could you live without meat? You’re missing out!”. But truly I am not. I live a perfectly fulfilled life, getting the nutrients I need, while eating the food I enjoy. I believe being vegan would help many Americans become healthier, they just have to take the leap and try.