Tattoos are not just art; they can express who someone is and convey deeper meanings.

  Some tattoos may be for the love of the art style, history, representation of a loved one, or just because someone likes tattoos. Reasons one may get a tattoo are endless. 

  “Because I love art, and I love the history of tattoos, which I try to represent. My first was 2 sprigs of chamomile on my collar bone, the newest was 2 medieval woodcut wolves going up my shoulders chasing the sun and the moon into my chest on either side,”  Logan Koeritz, senior, said.  “The first I got because of what it represents, peace and resilience.” 

  Some may get it as a memorial for a loved one who has passed away.

  “The only meaningful tattoo I have is a small one on my leg. When my brother-in-law passed away, my wife and I decided to get tattoos from his favorite bands. My wife got a Led Zeppelin / John Bohnam tattoo, of three interlocking rings, and I got a Pink Floyd tattoo, of two mechanical hands shaking,” Andrew Jensen, ceramics teacher, said.

  Not only do many use tattoos to represent passed loved ones, but also for much happier remembrances, such as their children.

“My upper arm has pages flying up from the books, and there are four that have symbols on them to represent each of my 4 kids.  Each symbol is a significant part of their childhood,” Karin Walker, English teacher, said.

  All tattoo artists have their own personal tattooing style, so all the artwork is unique and never the same.

  “The tattoos on my arms are simply because I liked the artist’s work,” Jensen said.

  If anyone is thinking about getting a tattoo, know that the pain level varies for everyone and the area in which it is placed.

  “The forearm is one of the least painful spots to get a tattoo, so it wasn’t that painful,”  Alvin Oliver, senior, said. “I got an ouroboros tattoo…ouroboros is symbolic of new beginnings, and rebirth.”

  “My foot hurt the worst,” Rebecca Thom, ASL teacher, said. “My first tattoo was in memory of my mom and a few other loved ones lost.”

  A tattoo has become a popular way to express oneself and can be a reminder of different values, loved ones, and more.