Whether spontaneous, inspired or planned, getting tattoos as a young adult is a big decision that may not sit well with others, but despite the consequences, some students decided to get them anyway.
Bea Lee, a 24-year-old animal science major, looks to have a high tolerance of pain as her tattoos span across most of her left arm. Sporting her dragon tattoo, she explained that it reflects her heritage to an extent but mainly got it to help a former friend who was starting her career as a tattoo artist. While modeling and shooting promotional videos, Lee allowed her friend to draw the dragon tattoo on her arm with a Sharpie and then trace it over with ink.
The style of the dragon stems from a neoclassical tradition where artists have more freedom to use bold lines, elements of colors and intricate details while incorporating traditional symbols of the culture they are portraying. “None of my tattoos have a super significant meaning … but if there is a meaning I guess it would be that I’m Chinese and that I [relate] to the dragon,” Lee said.
Though her tattoos don’t convey a significant or profound message, having them on her body was a big deal to her family. “I’m the only female with tattoos in my family and my parents [were] not the biggest fans,” Lee said. Lee would hide her tattoos for four months by wearing long sleeve T-shirts in the house until her mom found out. “My mom didn’t really talk to me for like a week but she’s cool with it now.”
Growing up in a family with strong traditions can cause tensions when one decides to break away from established norms and express themselves differently. Lee’s family didn’t see tattoos as art at first. She explained that tattoos in Asian cultures are taboo and frowned upon due to negative stereotypes and that it took time for her family to accept them as art and understand the culture around them.
28-year-old kinesiology major, Heidy Navarijo, can relate. “I grew up in a very old-school traditional Hispanic Christian home, so my whole life was like, ‘If you get tattoos or piercings, you’re going to get disowned and kicked out,’ But as time revealed to Lee’s family societies consensus on tattoos, so Navarijo’s family became more tolerant of them.
Like Lee, Navarijo also hid her first tattoo but from her dad. “When I turned 18, I told my mom first and we kept it hidden [from him] for a while … by that time though I wanted more and eventually I had to say something because there was no way I was going to be able to hide them all,” Navarijo said.
Unlike Lee however, Navarijo has more body art consisting of both tattoos and piercings, something she knew couldn’t conceal forever. Eventually, Navarijo just told her parents about them but felt that they already knew in some way. “I guess they just accepted it and saw that this is what I like now,” she said.
Turning 18, she got her first tattoo of Zelda’s “Twilight Princess” logo, and over the years her body slowly became covered with ink, inspired mainly by anime and video games.
When asked what students should consider before getting tattoos Navarijo’s advice was practical. “Do your research on the artist that you want to go to and just keep in mind what you want to get because you’ll change a lot as you grow up … so just wait on it for a while. If you still want it [after waiting] then you’ll probably be ok getting it but if you’re going back and forth about it then don’t.”
For others, tattoos can be a means to remember and honor loved ones who passed and artistically state certain values and beliefs on their bodies. 19- year-old business major Christian Martinez did just that.
On his inner left arm, Martinez displays an inked memorial to his late grandmother Rosemary, accompanied by prayer hands and his favorite verse from the Bible, Isaiah 54:17. When asked if these tattoos had meaning Martinez said, “It’s a way to honor my grandmother and showcase my faith.” Though some of his family members still don’t know he has one, his mother is on board with him seeing it’s a way to remember family. “It was her mom, so she likes it and everyone who sees it likes it,” Martinez said.
The same sentiment resides within 21-year-old kinesiology major Anthony Munoz, who has tattoos referring to both his faith and those that have passed.
For Monuz faith and love go hand in hand, both referring to his religion and people. “[Faith] is about my faith in Jesus but also about my grandmother who passed away, her name was Faith. Love I have on here … because that’s how I believe we should treat other people [and] be pilot to them and listen to them and be a good friend.
His grandmother however, isn’t the only person he has lost in his young life. Munoz’s forearm displays a tattoo of SpongeBob and Patrick that is dedicated to his best friend from high school who passed away. Monuz was unclear on how his friend died but said that the tattoo reminded him not to do drugs.
For those thinking of getting tattoos Munoz feels that one should think about it and try to see themselves as an old person with art on their body. If they believe they won’t regret it then go for it.
Though one should also consider their future career and what tattoos could mean when applying for a job, society in large, has changed its views on tattoos, viewing them mainly as a way for a person to express themselves beyond apparel.
