spiritual ideas over the past year and a half, she said. “Over quarantine, teens were branching out in ways of expressing themselves, which includes adding things to their bodies that aren’t traditional and aren’t conservative,” Yang said.
For senior Ryan Darby, tattoos help him remember personal struggles. Last February, he memorialized the day he was diagnosed with cancer in tattooed Roman numerals. “I got it because I felt like it actually meant something, and it shows who I am,” Darby said. “That day makes me who I am.” Darby was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2009. Exactly nine years after the doctors announced he was in remission, Darby got the tattoo at Bethesda Tattoo. He has plans for another tattoo: Roman numerals representing the date he beat cancer, he said. “When I told [my parents] why I wanted it and what it symbolized, they understood, because they were with
me on that journey too,” Darby explained. Last summer, when Darby spent time at the beach and pool, he received a fair share of judgemental looks. “Some people will come up and ask me what it means,” Darby said. “Once I tell them, I can see their facial expression change as they realize it’s something important.” While tattoos often elicit judgement, it shouldn’t stop hopeful students from getting one, Darby added. “Do whatever makes you happy, don’t let anybody else control what you want to do in life,” Darby said. “People are always going to have their opinions, but the only one that matters is yours.”
Pictured top left: Junior Ryan Ellis’ tattoo of his late grandfather’s nickname, “Two.” Photo courtesy of RYAN ELLIS. Pictured above: Senior Ryan Darby’s tattoo of the date he was diagnosed with childhood cancer. The tattoo expresses what he sees as a vital part of his identity. Photo courtesy of RYAN DARBY. Pictured left: Senior Noah Sapiro’s tattoo of the Hebrew words that translate to “may his memory be a blessing” to pay homage to a friend who had passed away. Photo courtesy of NOAH SAPIRO.
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