Reaching the end of high school for us seniors, it’s apparent that a lot of people around us are going from angsty teens to being able to sign their own documents. A lot of students are turning 18. With this coming of age comes many freedoms, too. Voting, serving on a jury, getting piercings, becoming an organ donor, applying for a credit card, and what seems to be the most intriguing 18-year-old freedom: tattoos. Even for the population of students who haven’t turned 18, it’s visible that there is a tattoo takeover at Arcata High.
Kieryn Wolfe, 17
Q: What is your tattoo of?
A: 667
Q: Where is it?
A: Across my left thigh
Q: What does this tattoo mean to you?
A: It’s the area code number for Trinidad for like the home phone number from when I was born. My older brother has it, and a bunch of his friends and other people who were born there have it. I was following the tradition.
Q: What do you think about teenagers with tattoos?
A: I think it’s cool as long as you have your parents’ permission and can be smart about it
Q: Do you plan to get any more tattoos in the future?
A: Hell yeah
Ash Osceola, 17
Q: What is your tattoo of?
A: A red-tailed hawk feather
Q: What does this tattoo mean to you?
A: It’s my grandpa’s memorial tattoo. He said before he passed that when he did pass away that he hoped to be reincarnated as a red-tailed hawk. My mom and I got this matching tattoo as a memory of him.
Q: What do you think about teenagers with tattoos?
A: I feel like if it’s something memorable or means something good to them, then I think it’s a good idea. Just don’t get something stupid like a meme or a partner’s name.
Q: Do you plan to get any more tattoos in the future?
A: Yes, of course, I have plans to get a butterfly tattoo and a woodpecker in the near future
Ronnie Rieke, 18
Q: How many tattoos do you have?
A: Three
Q: How old were you for your first?
A: Sixteen
Q: What is this tattoo of?
A: A lion and sunflowers on the top of my forearm
Q: What does this tattoo mean to you?
A: It means a lot to me. It represents my mom, it’s a lion for Leo, and it’s a female lion. Then the sunflowers are her birth flower. I love my mom.
Q: What do you think about teenagers with tattoos?
A: If you really wanna get it, I mean…okay, but I would say think about it for at least a couple of months. Make sure it’s in your head and you know you want it. You can get it stenciled out first or get a fake tattoo in the place you want your real one. Rock it for a week, see how you like it, and like having a tattoo right there.
Q: Do you plan to get any more tattoos in the future?
A: Yeah, I want a full arm sleeve by the age of 22.
Giselle Salas, 18
Q: How many tattoos do you have?
A: One
Q: What is your tattoo of?
A: It is a bundle of flowers with a butterfly or moth of some sort
Q: What does this tattoo mean to you?
A: It was drawn by my grandma, so I got it tattooed onto me, and my mom has the same, but a slightly different variation of flowers
Q: When did you get this tattoo?
A: About 4 days after I turned 18 in December
Q: Where is your tattoo?
A: On my left back shoulder
Q: What do you think about teenagers with tattoos?
A: I encourage them, because I have one. I also think that they have to be meaningful at first and that you should put a lot of thought and time into them.
Q: Do you plan to get tattoos in the future?
A: Oh, yes, definitely
