By: Misty Granil

"Barbie has always been a dreamer. She's always had big dreams, and she knows it's up to her to make them come true."

Barbie is a young, impressionable woman who has the world at her feet. Before she turned 18, she did not know what to expect from the next year of her life. She had no idea if she would make it through high school or go to college. All she knew was that she wanted to be happy, and that was all that mattered.

Now that she's 18, she's learned so much about herself and how to be a better person. It was not easy - there were times when she wanted to give up and times when life seemed too hard - but in the end it was worth it because now she knows who she is. She's still learning how to grow up, and she realizes that taking responsibility and making good decisions is not easy. It takes work and it does not come naturally. But with the help of her family, friends and support system at home, Barbie has learned to be happy and confident - and to make smart choices for her future. "The most important thing for me is to become a better person. That means taking on more responsibility, learning to make better choices and giving back to my community." said Barbie.

The things that really make Barbie is? Her family and friends are at the top of that list. They are always there when she needs them and give her good advice - and they were there for her when it mattered most. She has a good relationship with her family, even if they are strict about dating men, because they want the best for their daughter. "My family has always been there for me, they support me in everything I do. My mother always reminds me to keep a cool head and make sure things go well in life - she wants me to be able to make decisions for myself without anyone else influencing her too much. My dad is stricter when it comes to dating (he doesn't want me to date anyone until after college). But when I finally do get to date, my ideal man is kind, tall, smells good, and is smart -someone who challenges me intellectually while making me feel safe." Barbie shared.

 She also wants to be a model one day. It's so cool how models make a career out of their looks - and it seems like an easy way to make money. But the fact is, it takes work! She knows she has to work hard if she wants to make her dreams come true.

Barbie used to be afraid to take risks because she was afraid of failing, but now she knows that failure is part of growth and that if you never fail, you'll never truly succeed. She still makes mistakes sometimes, but instead of getting upset when they happen (or letting them stop her), Barbie learns from those mistakes and moves on with her head held high. Barbie said, "I am more willing to make decisions now because I know how bad my indecision can be. Now that I am 18, there's more responsibility on my shoulders, so it's important that I am organized and efficient with my time."

She looked forward to turning eighteen because she knew it meant she could finally begin her adult life. Years from now, she envisioned building a house with her husband and children somewhere in Baguio or Tagaytay and settling down to live happily ever after. She plans to make the most of her years and do everything she can to become a successful, happy woman.

She also wants to be a model one day. It's so cool how models make a career out of their looks - and it seems like an easy way to make money. But the fact is, it takes work! She knows she has to work hard if she wants to make her dreams come true.

Barbie used to be afraid to take risks because she was afraid of failing, but now she knows that failure is part of growth and that if you never fail, you'll never truly succeed. She still makes mistakes sometimes, but instead of getting upset when they happen (or letting them stop her), Barbie learns from those mistakes and moves on with her head held high. Barbie said, "I am more willing to make decisions now because I know how bad my indecision can be. Now that I am 18, there's more responsibility on my shoulders, so it's important that I am organized and efficient with my time."

She looked forward to turning eighteen because she knew it meant she could finally begin her adult life. Years from now, she envisioned building a house with her husband and children somewhere in Baguio or Tagaytay and settling down to live happily ever after. She plans to make the most of her years and do everything she can to become a successful, happy woman.

PHOTO: Diseño Photo and Video Services

HMUA: Joy D Sanchez

DESIGNER: Bong Ronquillo

ORGANIZER: Mizrach Events Production