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Meaningful Marks
Students show off their tattoos and the meanings behind them Madison Shuey
reporter
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appy 18th Birthday, you can now buy a lottery ticket, join the military, be charged as an adult, be able to vote and get a tattoo. Growing up, tattoos were seen as taboo with negative stereotypes. However, the implications have changed and this is not the case. Tattoos are now viewed as a way to express yourself and a form of art. They often have special meanings or they can just be for pure fun. Either way, there are often beautiful art.
Senior Lauren Kirk had always wanted tattoos but wasn’t sure if she would be able to get one due to her parent’s views on them. Recently, her family endured the loss of her sister, Emily Kirk. “My parents, sister, cousins and aunts all got tattoos for Emily. All of ours are a little different because we wanted to each have our special one,” Kirk said. The tattoo is the quote “Until we meet again” located on her rib cage. “When I start to miss my sister a lot, this tattoo reminds me that I will get to see her again one day,” Kirk said.
Photo By Audrey Kirk
Photo By Ali Gudenkauf
Photo By Audrey Kirk
Always having a fascination with tattoos, senior Caitlin O’Connor enjoys learning about the story behind each one. O’Connor currently has two tattoos; one located on her rib cage and the other along her spine. Both are dedicated to her older brother who passed away five years ago. The first tattoo is angel wings with the words “Love, Sean” written underneath. “I wanted a piece of him on me and I thought it was perfect to get his handwriting from a note he wrote me,” O’Connor said. This tattoo is also shared with her mom and is something special that only they’ll have. The second tattoo, which is also her favorite, is a Mac Miller quote that says “life goes on, days get brighter.” “Every time I listen to Mac Miller I think about the times that we would drive around together and the quote is from one of our favorite songs together,” O’Connor said. O’Connor has plans for more tattoos in the future and even has one scheduled within the next few weeks. “I think tattoos are just another way of expressing yourself and it’s art on your body,” O’Connor said.
Tattoo Rebels Students under 18 share their ink that had to be signed off by an adult. “Rebels” for getting it before they are legal adults.
Lulu Walton Junior
Photo By Ava Speropoulos
