Self expression is not a mistake.
I believe it is important for people to express themselves because as time wears on, originality is becoming more difficult to find. Especially during high school, teenagers are heavily influenced by their peers. This influence leaves less room for individuality.
High school changes people, and this is a crucial time period for teenagers in regards to personality development. As teenagers discover who they are, they also discover self expression in the form of tattoos.
During senior year, many students turn 18, which legally opens the door to the world of tattoos. However, those who would go through that door typically have this on their minds long before their birthday.
Teenagers excitedly bounce around tattoo ideas in their heads. One of the biggest decisions is placement because, unfortunately, most of the adult world is not quite as open to expression. Especially in the professional world, tattoos are frowned upon.
This judgement from future employers is completely unfair.
Self expression, in all forms, has come be to associated with a sense of delinquency over the years. But judgement should not hold people back from expressing themselves, especially when it comes to one’s own body.
Society has dictated to people what they can wear, how they should wear their hair and even what they should say. In certain schools, some students cannot even wear their hair at a certain length. This should not be the case.
At interviews, if an employer sees a tattoo, they may be less likely to consider that person for the job. Tattoos should not define someones ability to work and work well. Employers need to be aware that in most cases, tattoos are more than just a mere image, there is a meaning to them.
Senior Jersson Pachar got his first tattoo while spending the summer in Ecuador when he was just 15.
“It’s about how I feel that I should live my life,” Pachar said.
Luckily, his parents were understanding, which may be in part due to the fact that Pachar’s tattoo is special to him.
Even if the unfair judgement of tattoos is not lifted, there are new ways to cover up tattoos if it becomes an issue. Several make up brands are coming out with new, thicker foundations called “BB cream” that can cover the ink.
While some people are all over the idea of tattoos, others are more weary. They dwell in the constant fear of regretting this permanency when they grow older.
This goes back to the idea of having a real, deep meaning behind the tattoo. There is no denying that as time goes on, people grow and thus so can what is important to them.
However, even if something is no longer relative as life carries on, people can look back and remember that it meant something real at a point in their life and that it was a part of who they used to be. The meaning can change, but that does not mean that the tattoo is worthy of regret.
Though many people frown upon tattoos, those who do not should not be put off by their negativity. Tattoos are a personal choice and a unique form of self expression.
By Amber Freidenfelds