Age 18…freedom. You can gamble, you can smoke and you can buy tobacco, guns and lottery tickets.  You can go to war and you can permanently ink yourself. As more and more Arrowhead students cross over to the adult world, seniors are getting tattoos to go along with them.  

 What is it about tattooing oneself that grabs so many 18 year olds’ attention?  To some, it’s their first act that that can’t be influenced by parents. To others, there’s a purpose behind it.  But for many it’s simply an accessory. Whatever the reason, students are inking like crazy.

Hot spots for tattoos vary between males and females. For girls, the top of the foot, the back of the neck, or the wrist is where inking is done. For guys, the rib cage, the upper back, or the under arm are the spots. The tattoos themselves can vary in price. Depending on how big and whether or not you want it colored, prices can range from as little as $40, to hundreds. Some tattoo artists charge by the hour, where others prices depend on the detail and size. 

                 “I decided to get paw prints on the tops of both my feet. My sister got it done, and I really liked it. Animals are a huge part of my life, so I thought it was a good idea,” said senior Karli DeFilippis.

“I actually designed my tattoo. It’s my dad’s hand on my rib cage and it reads, ‘For Those Who Have Left Their Mark.’ It holds a lot of meaning to me,” said senior Collin Schrek.

                When you think of getting tattooed, pain is a major deciding factor.

“It was probably the worst pain I’ve ever felt. It felt like the skin from my wrist was just being peeled away and all I got was a small Chinese symbol for my name.” said senior Suzy Batcher.

“It was like a direct pain in the back of my neck that I couldn’t make stop. It hurt like crazy. All that pain for just two small angel wings on the back of my neck.” said senior Ari Stuckart.

                Regardless of where you get a tattoo, pain in inevitable. However, some spots are known to hurt worse than others. The rib cage and top of the foot are the worst, due to such a lack of skin. The arm and  lower back don’t tend to hurt as bad. 

                The idea of having a permanent symbol or phrase on your body is tempting for many, but not for everyone. Many seniors aren’t sure about tattooing.  

                “Now that I’m 18 I think about doing it all the time. I feel like I should do something spontaneous now that I’m finally of age. I just don’t have anything significant enough to actually tattoo on myself,” said senior Ellen Panther.

                “I actually really want a tattoo.  I even know what I would get. It’s just such a big leap. Once you get it it never comes off. That’s something you have to think about,” said senior Nick Peret.

                So you’re finally 18…what now? Students who have decided to get tattoos seem pleased with the outcomes. However, before you take that step, think about if you want that part of your body to be inked for the rest of your life.