While some American teenage girls dream of a huge star-studded party to celebrate their Sweet Sixteen, the whole glamorous and glitter-filled parties aren’t for everyone. Many girls make other plans to celebrate their day, like going on a dream vacation or getting their first car! This is your big day, why not do what you want?
Sophomore Brandi Spano spent her 16th birthday weekend in Vermont. She took the five hour drive to see her siblings who are attending college in the state. She said, “It was my idea to go to Vermont because I really wanted to spend time with my brother and sister.” To celebrate, she said, “We went out to dinner to a restaurant on Main Street (in Vermont) and I got surprise VIP tickets to see Justin Timberlake!”
Senior Alexa Smith chose to celebrate her 16th by hosting a big birthday bash. Alexa said, “I originally wanted a small dinner and my mom wanted to have more of party so we just mixed both.” Of course, an important step in planning a great Sweet Sixteen is creating the the guest list. Alexa said, “I tried to keep it so everyone there was friendly with each other and so no one would feel uncomfortable. The list and the tables were the hardest part.” A Sweet Sixteen party can be fun, but it can also be stressful when dealing with all the plans and reservations. Alexa said, “It was definitely a bit of both but I loved it, especially when it all came together at the end.”
As for myself, I decided to celebrate my 16th by stuffing my face with Nutella crêpes and delicious pistachio macaroons in the city of Paris. Although my birthday is in December, I celebrated it early with my cousin who recently turned 16. My aunt and uncle have a house in the countryside of France (which was half an hour away from Paris) and invited us to stay for a week. Originally it wasn’t my idea to visit Paris, but a big trip to celebrate my birthday seemed perfect. From running throughout museums to dying along the steps of the Eiffel Tower, France was unbelievably amazing.
A Sweet Sixteen doesn’t have to be a huge party or a fancy trip. It can be whatever you like as long as it’s special to you, so be creative and most importantly, have fun!