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Girls becoming young ladies: Mis Quince Años

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At Langley Park Community Center on Friday Feb. 4, parents and teens saw how the Mis Quince Años program can usher teen girls into the next step of young adulthood. Following the informational part of the evening, many of last year’s program participants approached the podium together. One-by-one they spoke into the microphone, each speaking words of praise for the ten-week program in her own way: some in English, others in Spanish, and a few in giggling Spanglish. But they cheered each other on, shared memories and stories with the crowd, and finished their presentation with a group curtsy. “It was the best experience I ever had,” said 17-year-old Rocio Lima. Erica Mata, 16, added “I had a blast, I met I lot of new friends.” Much like the Teen Cotillion program, Mis Quince Años guides teens through a coming-of-age process, culminating with a final dance event. However in this program, participants are 15 teenage girls, and their big event is the cultural celebration of the Quinceañera. This event, a part of the Latino culture, is something that many Latina girls dream of, but it is not always affordable. “I never had one,” said one of the program’s chairpersons, Nydia Oscasio, explaining her passion for this program, “I didn’t have enough money.” The Mis Quince Años program allows these 15 girls to have the celebration they have dreamed about, as well as to learn about the growth into adulthood that it represents. Most notably, it does so affordably, as many girls are sponsored by outside donors, and much of the program’s resources are donations from the community. “Es como un sueño,” said 15-year-old Monica Bernal, speaking of the opportunities the program gave her last year—“it’s like a dream.”