Sophomore year is when students across the nation celebrate a large milestone in their lives, turning 16. By throwing parties and surrounding themselves with their closest friends, students make memories they’ll never forget. While numerous students have lavish parties with hundreds around, students may opt to throw something smaller or nothing at all.
One student who opted for an extravagant party is sophomore Natalia Rodman. Rodman loves anything pink, so to her the most logical thing was to celebrate her special day with everyone special to her, while being surrounded by everything pink. Rodman came to impress with her pink winter wonderland themed party.
Dressed in a long, sparkly pink gown paired with silver heels, a matching necklace and face glitter, Rodman committed completely to her favorite color. She encouraged her friends and family to do the same. “My favorite color is pink and it’s winter, so duh, I had to put the two together,” Rodman said.
Two activities offered that encapsulated Rodman’s sparkly and bright personality were hair tinseling and face glitter. Guests crowded around the stations, adding shimmer and sparkle before heading back to the dance floor, embracing the pink winter wonderland theme. From the start of the night, it was clear this was not just a party, it was a reflection of Rodman herself.
Rodman’s party offered no shortage of food or entertainment. From a grazing table to a sushi bar as well as stir fry, Mediterranean and Little Italy stations, guests had numerous meal options. Popcorn, pink cotton candy, an ice cream bar and cake were the quintessential sweet and savory choices for guests to snack on. Energy levels maintained high throughout the evening with guests engaged in Rodman’s favorite games, Coke and Pepsi, limbo and “Who knows me best.” Her favorite moment was a dance performance she shared with one of the girls she babysits. “After two months of endless practices together, the result was so worth it,” Rodman said.
One of the most meaningful gifts she received was a “16 letters from 16 people who love you” book, a keepsake she’ll hold onto long after the decorations come down. This book was filled with hand-written letters from friends and family talking about how much they love, cherish and appreciate her.
Not all students favor a large-scale event to celebrate. Sophomore Ariella Chi chose to throw something smaller and quaint. Chi, who turns 16 in May, wants her celebration to be more intimate, and not with every person she’s ever spoken to but a comfortable middle ground filled with people she loves and talks to regularly.
Chi admits part of her inspiration to throw a party comes from how increasingly popular they have become. While Sweet 16s have become extravagant, “While I feel like having a fancy theme would be fun, there are a lot of simpler ideas that I’d want to explore,” Chi said.
One detail she is absolutely certain about is the food. Chi is a fajita enthusiast and knows whether her party is big or small, she is destined to have fajitas there. “Whenever and wherever I throw this party, I know that I need to have fajitas from Guapo’s there,” Chi said.
Although a party for Chi is definitely in her future, if she wasn’t planning to have one, she’d want to spend the day with her closest friends and eat fajitas. For her, the celebration isn’t about going all out; it’s about good food, good company and marking the moment in a way that feels special and true to her.
Not every sophomore, however, feels drawn to the Sweet 16 spotlight. Jonathan Henderson has decided that he probably won’t be having one at all. With a birthday at the end of March, Henderson said, “That time of year just gets so chaotic and unbearable, taking the time to plan a party is not something I could handle.”
Henderson has thought about what it might look like if he does host one. He estimates that he would invite around 100 people and keep the dress code simple. Food would be catered from Mama Lucia, featuring pasta, chicken and salad, along with beverages such as Shirley Temples and milkshakes. Rather than having an elaborate list of activities, Henderson imagines having a comfortable night centered around board games, a slideshow and other small, personal activities.
While students may dream of packed dance floors and over-the-top decor, others like Henderson, prefer to keep things low pressure. Whether it’s Rodman’s glittering winter wonderland, Chi’s fajita-filled gathering or Henderson’s decision to keep it chill, each sophomore is finding their own way to mark turning 16.
For students, turning 16 isn’t about how big the party is, it’s about celebrating in a way that feels authentic to them. As Henderson said, “It is your special day and you get to spend it how you want and with who you want. Don’t feel pressured to invite people you don’t want to, it’s your moment and your choice to have everyone you love around.”
