After the death of her grandmother, senior Caitlyn Corl decided to go beyond keeping momentos to remember her loved one. For Corl, body art seemed more appropriate.
Senior Trevor Coe will also pay tribute to a late family member in July when he gets his first tattoo. For Coe, this tattoo will represent an important part of his identity, while paying respect to the strength and perseverance shown by those who fight cancer.
“I am planning on getting a tattoo when I turn 18,” Coe said. “It is going to be an orange cancer ribbon. This will be important to me because it will be a physical representation of myself and everyone I have known who has struggled with cancer.”
For Coe, the orange cancer ribbon will symbolize the courage shown by himself, his family and his friends in a difficult battle against leukemia.
“I have actually had cancer,” Coe said. “I had leukemia, so my tattoo will be very personal to me. I know a lot of people who have had leukemia, so my tattoo will represent the struggle everyone has gone through.”
Senior Marianne Hoppe has already gotten a tattoo and has plans for more. Her tattoo has personal significance and symbolizes her life.
“I got my tattoo the day I turned 18. I have been planning it for a while. It is a dove with a rainbow background,” Hoppe said. “I wanted the tattoo because it symbolizes who I am. The dove represents peace while the rainbow colors represent the acceptance of everyone. It reminds me to be proud of who I am and to treat everyone as I want to be treated.”
Hoppe’s tattoo also symbolizes the struggle her father endured while going through multiple illnesses and medical troubles.
“I got my tattoo in commemoration of my dad because he went through surgery and almost died,” Hoppe said. “My next tattoo is going to be one matching with my dad. We are planning on getting it next year.”
While some students have a story behind their body art, senior Tracy Bodenhammer said she got a tattoo because she appreciates the artistic component of tattoos.
“The main reason I got a tattoo is because it is cool,” Bodenhammer said. “I got the phrase, ‘Be here now,’ on my 18th birthday because it’s a saying that I like to live by. I like the saying because I try not to think too much about the past or the future, but live for today. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.”
Bodenhammer plans to continue expressing herself through tattoos in the future.
“I’m already planning on getting three more tattoos,” Bodenhammer said. “I want a Marilyn Monroe statement on my arm and the saying, ‘Remember who you are.’ I definitely want one on my foot as well.”
Recently, tattoos have exploded in popularity. According to a study conducted by Harris Interactive Inc., 30 percent of people between the ages of 25 and 29 have tattoos compared to 11 percent of people between the ages of 50 and 64 who have done the same.
Nevertheless, some high school students are not as appreciative of the popularization of body art.
“I think little tattoos that have a meaning are OK,” senior Emily Pruitt said, “but I don’t really like the huge tattoos that are all over. I might would get a tattoo when I’m older. It would definitely be a small one that means something.”
By Amy Turlington
