(June 10, 2011) — On the morning of her sweet sixteen, senior Liya Zadourian woke up with a smile on her face and unsettled nerves. She had been waiting for this day since she was a little girl, like most other girls do for their own sweet sixteens. Spending the entire day getting ready for the big night, Zadourian says that it was a day she’ll never forget and the perfect way to kick off her sophomore year. The class of 2011 spent their sophomore years attending numerous sweet sixteens. As a matter of fact, Zadourian approximates that she went to over 20 parties during that year. Although not all sweet sixteens have to be big and glamorous, Zadourian’s happened to be just that. Celebrating a day that she would never forget, Zadourian rented out MGM Banquet Hall and invited all of her friends to attend. “I just wanted to feel like a princess for a day, and I did. It was everything I wanted,” said Zadourian. With all the decorations, the DJ, center pieces, the dress, make-up, hair and the banquet hall, Zadourian’s birthday party ended up costing about $10,000. But she doesn’t believe that sweet sixteens are a waste of time or money because it should be something that is celebrated, whether in a big or small fashion. Others believe that such parties are a waste of time and completely unnecessary. Senior Sarin Balikian says, “I don’t think it should be made into as big deal as it is thought of because I don’t think it’s that big of a deal to turn sixteen.” Not having had a sweet sixteen herself, Balikian celebrated by going out with a few of her closest friends, finding it as a more special and memorable night. Balikian hopes, though, to celebrate her eighteenth or twenty-first birthday more extravagantly because she believes those ages are worth celebrating more than sixteen.