Inked Up

Tattoos are a forever commitment (unless later on down the line you get it removed). See how the students at MHS with tattoos feel about them!

Jackson Kilburn, '23

Plenty of people at MHS have tattoos, and with the destigmatizing of tattoos, more and more students are getting them when they can. Tattoos are a really important form of self-expression, whether it's a silly tattoo or one with meaning. No matter what it may be, these tattoos are sure to interest you and maybe even help you think of ideas for a future tattoo of your own.

Tell me about your tattoo

My tattoo is a planet with a plane, it goes exactly from the point where my country is. It is kinda small but I did it on my ribs, so it was pretty feel-able.

What does your tattoo mean to you?

It means a lot. My sisters and brother, who already left home, have the same one. It shows the whole planet, which means we are everywhere. We travel everywhere, but we always make this circle and come back to our country, Moldova.

Why did you get your tattoo?

I got it because I knew that I was leaving my home for a whole year, as I am an exchange student, and it represents the beginning of my life away from home.

How long did you think about your tattoo before you got it?

I thought about getting it for six months, and I decided to do it a month after getting the scholarship for my exchange year.

Do you think tattoos should be meaningful? Why or why not?

Honestly, not every tattoo should be meaningful. It is your body, it is your choice. Some people get their parents' fingerprints tattooed, some people wake up in the morning and decide to tattoo a silly goose on their right hand and I find it beautiful! Everyone is different and tattoos are pretty funny because you never know what responses you'll receive from it.

-Anna Finuic, grade 11

Tell me about your tattoo

So currently I have 3 tattoos. One on my shoulder, one on my tricep, and one on my outer forearm.

What does your tattoo mean to you?

My shoulder one is a moon with roman numerals and it's the moon phase my dad was born on and his birthday is the numerals. My tricep says family in cursive, and then my forearm is a knife with my birth dad's nickname, and the name below it is my grandpa's name.

Why did you get your tattoo?

I've always wanted tattoos with meanings so that I could have stories to tell my future kids.

How long did you think about your tattoo before you got it?

I thought about them for months. I planned them ahead of time from the start of me getting tattoos, which was my moon tattoo.

Do you think tattoos should be meaningful? Why or why not?

Yes, my left arm when I finish it will all be meaningful and family related. When getting a tattoo, you can't have any regrets so it's better to make it meaningful.

-Daniel Adams, grade 12

Tell me about your tattoo

My tattoo is an image of three butterflies flying around with bubbles and sparkles, located on my arm.

What does your tattoo mean to you?

To me, my tattoo symbolizes my growth and my ability to become my own person.

Why did you get your tattoo?

I've grown a lot as a person, and I felt like the tattoo I ended up getting perfectly symbolizes that which is important to me.

How long did you think about your tattoo before you got it?

I had known that I wanted a tattoo, I just wasn't sure about what I wanted. I had seen a butterfly tattoo and then looked and looked for one that I wanted. I was certain for about a week before I got it.

Do you think tattoos should be meaningful? Why or why not?

I don't think it matters whether or not tattoos are meaningful. I think meaningful tattoos are great, but I also think if you like something and want to get it tattooed, you should go for it. You might "regret" it later in life, but I think tattoos are little reminders of who you once were.

-Hayden Evans, grade 12

So while you may not have a tattoo right now, or you do but it's something that you believe doesn't have a meaning, every tattoo at least has a story. Maybe it was just something you got on a whim while having a night out on the town with a group of friends, or maybe it was something you thought about for months before finally deciding on getting it and it has a lot of meaning to you, it has a story that deserves to be told!