The day I turned 18 felt like clicking off a leash – not that I ever had strict parents, but they had their rules. The big one was no tattoos or piercings (other than earrings) until I was 18. My first tattoo was an unforgettable experience because while I don’t feel like one, the government says I am an adult now. I took an hour and a half-drive to Howell, Michigan to the sister location of a parlor in my hometown.
The tattoo I chose was one I had planned for years. Most people tell me when they notice my tattoos that they could never get a meaningless tattoo. I find it hard to explain my first tattoo, but those who understand the reference tend to give me pitiful looks. My tattoo isn’t original but instead an exact copy of one I saw years ago. My favorite novel and show adaptation is “Normal People,” by Sally Rooney. The tattoo reads “‘I’ll Stay’ ‘And I’ll go’ ‘And We’ll be okay.’” The scene is the finale of the show, with Marianne and Connell seated on the floor in warm, tragic conversation. The relevance to me is that I always said Connell and Marianne’s relationship mirrors my first boyfriend’s and my relationship. The tattoo is a reminder that one of us goes and the other has to stay, and here I am, doing okay.
My most recent tattoo is a fine-line little star done by my stepsister’s step dad (blended family things). It was a spontaneous decision but I have no regrets. That can be the best part.
Grace Robertson, a first-year at the University of Rhode Island, committed to a heartfelt shark tattoo before her first year of high school.
“If you stop swimming, you will sink,” Grace said about the meaning behind the tattoo. “It was a fresh start before I started college.”
Tattoos can be memorabilia; they are like a souvenir that doesn’t break in your suitcase.
My fourth tattoo is a lyric from Taylor Swift’s song “Mirrorball.” This is a song that I have always related to since the release of her album “Folklore.” “Try, Try, Try” is a snippet of my favorite part of the song. Swift sings “I’ve never been a natural; all I do is try, try, try.” I try with my writing, I try to be a better friend and I try to succeed in academics. High school was not my best years, and the song was always there for me.
Charlotte O’Malley, another first year at URI, has a lavish tree on the side of her rib.
“My parents both have this tattoo and it resembles life and growth,” Charlotte said.
Charlotte’s roommate also chimed in on the opportunity to show off her ink, a hummingbird on the back of her shoulder. The tattoo is an ode to her fond memory
“It is sentimental to a cabin trip I take every summer where I always feed the hummingbirds,” Natalie Westerlund said.
I am not sure I will ever get married, but I always dream of having a bouquet of calla lilies. The second tattoo I got, my favorite, is a single calla lily on my right hip. This one was for decoration. I like when she peeks out from my low-rise jeans or when I put on a bikini for the first time this summer.
Whether they are fun sketches, homages to family members or detailed works of art, tattoos are important to people. They mark life changes and resemble personality. Customizing yourself doesn’t stop at style or hair or piercings- sometimes it hurts, but regrettable or not, they are milestones in life.
