By: Mylene Campos

One of the most commonly observed celebrations in the Philippines is a young woman’s debut, as it celebrates both adulthood and independence. For Arjeaneylene (also known as Aryan Sweet) becoming a woman is not just a privilege but a responsibility as well. She believes that a lady grows more accountable once she enters womanhood.

NO LONGER A GIRL | Arjeaneylene found herself as a confused little girl during her younger years. “I thought I had it all figured out. I tried to set things that I thought I wanted to achieve. I had fun and was carefree,” she shared. But when she finally crossed the path to womanhood, she realized how she became a bit more particular with anything and everything. “I always stick to what I think I want. And in some situations, I would also care less about certain things. But things have changed. While little things do matter, I now make sure to distant myself from petty, useless, and unnecessary stuff. This way of thinking has helped me to become better and to be more mindful as a person."

LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE | Arjeaneylene will miss her teen years, especially the times when she was still allowed to sleep for as long as she wanted. For her, entering adult life entails having a lot of responsibilities (and sleep may no longer be that much of an option). But she looks forward to gaining responsible freedom and learning more about herself through this new stage in her life.

OF DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS | When she was a kid, Arjeaneylene wanted to become a doctor, teacher, or police. But as she reached her teens, her fascination shifted into the arts. “I am a frustrated ARTist. But I decided that it was just a hobby,” she shared. “I had to go through a long path until I finally decided to be a doctor. It was all I ever wanted,” Aryan added.

In 10 years, she sees herself as a practicing surgeon, specializing in Orthopedics, and having a family and a house of her own. “Given the timeline and my kind of work, it would probably be uncertain for me to have a family of my own. But if God will permit it, it will be one of the best moments of my adult life,” Aryan shared.

INSPIRATIONS IN LIFE | The people who Aryan loves keeps her inspired. “I may not have a boyfriend now. But at least, I have friends who keep me motivated in life. And when I do meet my future boyfriend, I would want him to be as respectful as he can be. He should be someone who understands how silly I am, and who loves my family and me. But as my elders tell me, a long list of characteristics from my ideal man would only be a piece of scratch. If someone comes and we vibe, we’ll vibe. There will be no more ifs and buts.”

WORDS OF WISDOM | The best advice that she received from her family was to never give up. "I was bullied a lot when I was a kid. During my younger years, people thought that I was high profile given my celebrity status. And even until now, I still get judged for being someone who I'm not. Thankfully, my family is always there to remind me to stay true and to be my authentic self. Things should be good, as long as I'm not stepping on anyone else,” she shared.

EIGHTEEN PLUS 1 | "In my 13-year old mind, I had already planned how my debut would turn out. It will be a masquerade ball where all of my loved ones will be wearing masks. Not knowing the faces behind these disguises will certainly add spark and excitement to the party." To date, Aryan is beyond pleased to have finally fulfilled her dream debut.

Her coming of age party was called EIGHTEEN PLUS 1 because she turned 19 last July. “For me, marking my debut at 19 years old was a way to show people that it's okay to celebrate it at a different year. It may not be the age that you're supposed to honor it. But you can always do it at a much better time," she said.

THE PREPARATIONS | They only had two months to prepare. “We still weren’t sure if the event would push through or not. However, everything followed suit as soon as we were given the go signal to book the venue. Good thing my Ate helped out by contacting all the suppliers that could still collaborate with us despite the short notice. Sadly, we had to look for new merchants, as some of them confirmed yet canceled after a week. But by God's grace, everything was polished and completed on time,” Aryan shared.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS | While she enjoyed receiving a lot of art materials as presents, Aryan’s favorite that night was the 18 Sparkles (more commonly known as 18 Candles). “I felt all the messages that were said to me. Everything made me feel special, knowing that I have real friends by my side,” she shared.