Discuss an Accomplishment or Event, Formal or Informal That Marked Your Transition from Childhood to Adulthood Within Your Culture, Community, or Family.

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There are a number of celebrations in the Latino community, but one of the most important is the time when a young girl becomes a woman at age fifteen. When I was younger, I would go to quinceañeras, a girl’s fifteenth birthday party, and watch girls become women with their massive ball gowns that were not my preferred style. Growing up I never really dreamt of the time when that would be me. I feared the idea of growing up, but eventually the time came when I had to leave my childhood behind. At 14 years and 5 months, I made the decision to celebrate my fifteenth birthday with family and friends in the traditional way even though it was not my style. That day would mark the day I grew up. That party would mark my transition from childhood to adulthood in my culture, community, and especially in my family. Besides deciding to have the traditional party, I chose a traditional massive ball gown that would make me look twice my size. In addition, I would wear a rhinestone covered tiara with the number “15” dangling from the center that was shaped like a heart as a symbol of leaving childhood behind and facing the challenges that lay ahead. Finally my birthday arrived and there I was making my big entrance with my brother leading me by the hand with all eyes and cameras turned on me. Then it hit me. I realized that by agreeing to this party and by inviting all these people, I now felt more pressure to not act as a child does. As I kept walking, I felt as if the aisle kept getting longer like a never ending tunnel. All these eyes and cameras everywhere I turned were looking straight at me. I started asking myself, “Is this worth it?” There was now more pressure on me to act like a lady rather than a girl who could have gone shopping with the money spent on the party. Was this party worth it? I stood up on the stage and began to sing the song I prepared; one person

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