<p>Hey CC, here is my common app essay. I am applying to a few good schools so I’m hoping I can kill the essay. Any help, review or comments/criticism is welcome! Thanks for the input</p>
<p>Why was I so weird? It was another 1st grade birthday party that seemed to happen every week. As usual, the birthday girl or boy brought food, cupcakes and drinks. Yet just like every time I couldnt eat half of it. Why me? All my classmates were eating; the teachers, the parents too. But there I was, eating one cupcake and starving for the rest of the day, just like every other time. I was hoping that for once, the class lunch would also include me, but it didnt- I felt excluded, lonely. I went home, infatuated with what happened that day. After months of holding it in, I bombarded my mom with questions: Why couldnt I eat meat? Everyone else is doing it, whats wrong with me? Can I try it? My mom, with a look of grief and misery, finally took me to El Pollo Loco.
My mom didnt know what to order at the restaurant. It was no surprise because my entire family is vegetarian. After ordering and receiving the seemingly foreign food, I sat at the table, with this red thing in front of me covered in some sort of sauce. How do I eat it? I asked my mom to cut it, and she said No, with a tear rolling down her eye. I forced myself to eat it- I could finally fit in! I could finally be normal! But every bite, every single chew, filled me with guilt and no matter how hard I tried to swallow it I spit it out in disgust. I kept trying and trying until my plate was full of spit out chicken. Though young, I came to the realization that day why I was vegetarian- I respected non-violence and animals, and I could not bring myself to eat them.
It was a normal thing every week for me to cry because some kid made fun of the food I brought from home, or even me. The next day, however, was different. I walked into the cafeteria and sat with some kids. They looked at me as if I was crazy: what was I doing there? When the usual teasing came around, I thought of the day before, what I went through, and I fought back the tears and wiped away the one that was forming on my eye. When they saw this, one kid talked to me asked me with beaming eyes what I had for lunch. I responded and for once I felt happy: maybe he could be my first friend! We became friends and remain best friends today.
Although he reached out to me, the kids who usually ridiculed me didnt stop. But I no longer cared. As a young boy, I was vulnerable- crying at what I should have stood up for. But as I became older, I learned to ignore the derision, and realized what I should care about is people seeing me as a compassionate person willing to share, as a kindhearted and peaceful person dedicated to preventing any type of violence, and as a selfless individual who values life over taste. Today, my friends, family, teachers and peers accept me for who I am and no longer consider my diet as an impediment to life. I never try to convert people, nor do I ever criticize meat eaters, but one thing is for certain: I am vegetarian. I love being vegetarian. And no one will ever come in my path to change this.</p>
<p>Word count: 581
81 words over limit</p>
<p>Thanks again!</p>