Tattoos are a bold and powerful form of self-expression. An increasing number of students are choosing to get inked before 18 with a signature for consent. However, not all these students are doing so with permission; sometimes, they do it secretly.
Tattoos represent personal stories, identity, or a sense of fun that they want to carry along with them in life. As the trend for younger tattoos grows, it raises debate and questions about legality, maturity, and the pressure on a young person to express themselves at such a young age. They have no regrets or doubts about the ink being left behind permanently.
Senior Olivia Buffalo has one tiny tattoo, but it holds a special meaning behind it. She got her tattoo with close family and friends after a family friend passed.
“She (passed friend) always wanted to get a smiley face tattooed, so we got them on our middle finger because she wanted to do that, and it’s a way to represent her,” Buffalo said. “My tattoo artist was pretty good, he’s funny, and he’s on Main Street>”
Her tattoo only took about 10 minutes. Her parents also have tattoos and didn’t mind her getting a tattoo, especially because it has so much meaning. Her mom also got the same tattoo. Without a doubt, she still would have gotten this tattoo even if she had to wait until 18.
“A common misconception people have about tattoos is that they are bad and don’t have a good meaning to them,” Buffalo said.
Sophomore Nayeli Villalva is inked up. She has around 13 tattoos. The most meaningful tattoo out of all of them is on her thigh.
“I have my brother and my birth year in Roman numerals,” Villava said. This tattoo took up a decent amount of time, up to an hour. While her parents have tattoos, they weren’t always 100% on her getting all of these tattoos.
“They were kind of hesitant at first, but they got more understanding because they are meaningful,” Villava said.
Even if Villalva was required to wait until 18, she would have still gotten the tattoo, and has no regrets about getting it currently. There are many opinions or misconceptions people have about tattoos.
Villalva describes one that people often say, “Tattoos are trashy.”
Senior Ryder Mapes has a couple of tattoos, but there is one he holds close to his heart, specifically. This tattoo isn’t just some random lyrics from a song on his forearm. The tattoo reads “And if you go, I’ll go with you.”
“This tattoo to me means that, no matter what, I’ll be with my sister and I’ll go anywhere with her. The other part of it is her saying that if you die, I’ll die with you, so we’re just inseparable,” Mapes said.
He got this tattoo in Wichita by an artist named Whitney, and his experience with the tattoo was interesting, only because there were a lot of people around who were odd. His tattoo took about 30 minutes to complete. His parents also have tattoos.
“My parents supported me getting this tattoo because it was a family thing,” Mapes said. Even if he had to wait until the appropriate age, 18, to get this tattoo, he would have still gotten it.
“Oh yeah, 100%,” Mapes said. He has no regrets about getting this tattoo, besides the fact that he wishes he had gotten it sooner.
“A lot of people say that tattoos hurt really bad, but they don’t hurt really bad,” Mapes said.
