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Like most 15 year olds, Julie Olivan looks forward to getting a learner's permit and starting her sophomore year in a new school.

Unlike her classmates, Olivan's 15th birthday celebration was a rite of passage - a celebration of traditions and family bonds, honoring the Clearwater resident's path to adulthood.

On July 10, Olivan dressed in a strapless, sequined pink gown and carried a bouquet of pink roses trimmed with silver ribbon and knelt before a priest, who blessed items from her childhood.

It was a signal of her transition to adulthood.

Originating in Mexico, quinceañeras are widely...