Minutes after performing at the Super Bowl, Katy Perry got “XLIX” tattooed on the right hand on the inside of her ring finger, to celebrate her performance, in a rather permanent way.
68% of teenagers in Buffalo High school couldn’t find the will to wait until they turned 18 years old to legally get tatted.
A law passed on July 1, 2010 saying that minors, even with parental consent, can no longer get a tattoo in the state of Minnesota legally. Some former students rushed to get a first tattoo before the law went into effect.
“I was too excited, young and stupid,” said BHS graduate Amanda Goodfellow. Goodfellow’s first tattoo was when she was 14 years old.
“Only 1 of the 10 I currently have was done legally,” said Goodfellow.
Unlike some teens, BHS graduate Jessie Gordon waited until she was 18 to get her first tattoo to make sure she was confident in her choice, which was a bible verse on her rib cage. Her tattoo reads “be strong and courageous for the lord will be with you always.”
“My advice would be, make sure you actually take time to think about the tattoo you want to get,” said Gordon. “I remember when I was 16 I had all these ideas and looking back on my ideas they were really stupid and I’m very glad I didn’t get them,” said Gordon.
Jesse Rahbain also suggests, “You should look at a tattoo for a good year, and if you still like it, get it.”
Tattoos are used for many different things and all kinds of people get them. A tattoo is a form of art, and to some people, a way to express themselves, through their thoughts or morals.
“It’s encouragement to keep living life,” said Senior Anya Bloom, “Because I struggle with motivating myself to keep going sometimes it just reminds me that surviving the small struggle will not push me down nor will the big ones it’s also placed in an area in which it’s only for my eyes no one else can see it.”
Some people use tattoos for closure, or to honor loved ones. Tattoos do a fabulous job at closing a certain chapter in one’s life, and choosing to continue with life and move on.
“Tattoos make your body look better in your own eyes,” said Goodfellow. “I literally only get tattoos of the things that I have experienced, things I know I will never forget.”
Tattoos are permanent which means intending to exist or function for a long, indefinite period without regard to unforeseeable conditions. This is something you can not just scrub off.
BHS graduate Austin Young said “After each tattoo I get, I definitely already have my next idea picked out, ready to go get it right away, after my last one. I love tattoos because of the meaning. I’m deciding to put something on my body for the rest of my life. Its awesome to me.”
“Choose wisely it will be there all ya life, so pick the right place where you think is suitable,” said BHS graduate Josh Braxton.
