By Feature Editor: Hannah Snyder

Not that long ago tattoos were typically imagined on people who rode motorcycles and on the arms of criminals. However, tattoos have been becoming much more popular in today’s society. The form of art and expression has been attracting high school students for about five years.

A few weeks ago, I got my first tattoo. As a high school senior many people were shocked about my choice. My tattoo is on the inner side of my left foot and says, “This too shall pass.” It’s nothing major like a dragon tattooed on my arm or an intense portrait on my thigh, however, it still counts as my first. According to a Pew Research study done in 2012, 36% of 18-25 year olds have at least one tattoo.

In the state of Michigan, teenagers are allowed to get a tattoo before the age of 18 if they have their parent’s consent. If your parents are allowing you to get your first tattoo, prepare yourself for the judgment. Although tattoos are becoming more popular, the first thing someone is going to say to you is, “You’re never going to have a career when you’re older.”

For me, the only people who knew about me getting a tattoo were my parents and one of my close friends. My own siblings weren’t even aware until I texted them while I was in the chair getting it done. Not telling anyone until after was my way of avoiding the judgment I knew I’d receive that could have potentially changed my decision.

For high school students wanting a large tattoo in a visible area, it’s important to remember that managers and future employers are going to criticize you based on your looks. It would be smart to avoid getting your entire body filled with ink until after you are in your desired job field. There is nothing wrong with having a lot of tattoos; I just think every tattoo on a person’s body should have a meaning. I don’t see the point in taking a random picture and placing it on your body for the rest of your life. Take the picture, put it in a frame and hang it in your bedroom if you like it so much. If it’s going to be a part of you forever, make sure it will have meaning to you that will last a lifetime.

Senior Jake Harding has more than just one tattoo like I do, he has three. “I’m going to get a sleeve done one day – this is just the start,” Harding says. Harding has the word “Courage,” the quote “It’s going to be okay in the end, if it’s not okay it’s not the end,” and a Kingdom Hearts inspired tattoo.

It’s rare to see a person with a completely original tattoo. Quotes from books, the internet and history are very common and tend to be chosen before an original piece. My tattoo is very popular and I’m well aware that hundreds of other people have the exact same quote on their body. The experiences and stories behind the meaning of the tattoo are completely different for every person, in a way making it a different tattoo.

Senior Marissa Friend plans to get my same quote tattoo later on in life. “I want the same tattoo as my best friend. Not because I want to copy her or have cliché matching ones though. I love the quote just as much as she does and want it on my body,” Friend says.

So many people want tattoos but are worried about the pain. As humans, it’s not common for us to intentionally hurt ourselves. Tattoos, however, are painful and yet millions of people around the world have them. When I got mine done, I didn’t know what to expect. My dad told me it would hurt while one of my friends said it wasn’t that bad. When he did the first line my exact words were, “Oh, it’s not that bad.” However, I quickly felt the pain. Since I got a quote, it was nice because he lifted the needle up after every letter. It was only for a second but every pause made the process much less painful. It’s not fun, but it’s manageable and I would never tell someone to avoid getting it for just for the pain aspect.

Tattoos are more than just art; they are a way to express yourself. Every tattoo, even if it has no meaning behind it, has a story. When I’m 50 I can look down at my tattoo and remember what I was like in high school and all the experiences I went through. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested if they have been debating on getting a tattoo for a while.