Pearl Angob, Junior

Last February, junior Pearl Angob had a tattoo inked on her back. According to Angob, she did not have parent consent and had the tattoo done by a friend’s brother who works at a tattoo parlor.

“I wasn’t pleased with how [the tattoo] turned out, so I went to my other friend who worked at an actual tattoo parlor and he totally fixed everything and made it look nicer,” Angob said. “But he did it behind the tattoo shop and his boss so he wouldn’t get fired.”

Angob explained how she got her tattoo after breaking up with her ex-boyfriend. Later on, she changed the words written about her ex to “trust no one but God, fear no one but God.”

“The meaning behind it is that I shouldn’t have to fear anybody who’s under God, and I shouldn’t put complete trust in anybody else except for myself and God,” Angob said.

According to Angob, she had wanted a tattoo ever since middle school.

“I wanted something meaningful to be marked on my body,” Angob said.

Sophie Hartler, Senior

Senior Sophie Hartler got her first tattoo one week before her 17th birthday. According to Harlter, she had wanted a tattoo since she was really young.

“I knew exactly what my first [tattoo] would be, a yin-yang, when my dad got his [yin-yang tattoo] when I was around 13,” Hartler said.

Hartler explained how she got two more tattoos two months later.

“I have my yin-yang on the back of my neck, my feather on my ribs, and an infinity sign on my hand,” Hartler said.

According to Hartler, each of her tattoos has a specific importance to her.

“My yin-yang is to match my dad’s,” Hartler said. “I got it because I moved out to live only with him two and a half years ago. I really grew up during that time and got closer to him. My feather is a reminder that a lighter day is ahead, and my infinity symbol is on my hand to match my boyfriend’s.”

Hartler explained how she doesn’t think she will ever regret her tattoos.

“I love them all so much,” Hartler said.

Emmanuel Torres, Senior

Four months ago, senior Emmanuel Torres had a tattoo inked on his right shoulder. According to Torres, he did not need parental consent because he was over 18.

“On my shoulder I got a tauro, which is a Mexican symbol of a bull,” Torres said.

According to Torres, he chose the Mexican symbol because he is proud of his culture. He explained that he had wanted a tattoo since he was really young.

“I’ve always loved tattoos,” Torres said.

Torres believes he will never regret getting his tattoo.

“No, [I won’t regret it because] I love tattoos and I like the design of this symbol a lot,” Torres said.

Rashawna Robinson, Senior

Senior Rashawna Robinson got her first tattoo one week before her 18th birthday.

“Both of my parents were okay with it because I had been asking them if I could get [a tattoo] since I was 16,” Robinson said.

According to Robinson, her siblings influenced her choice to get a tattoo.

“My brother has many tattoos and four of my sisters have one, so I thought it was pretty cool and interesting,” Robinson said.

Robinson explained that she wanted to get something meaningful for her first tattoo.

“I figured my, or anyone for that matter, first tattoo should be something that actually means something,” Robinson said. “So my first tattoo was my zodiac sign. I got it on the left side of my chest.”

According to Robinson, she believes she will never regret her tattoo.

“It’s a decision that I have been thinking about since I was 16, and I’m sure that it’s something that I wanted to do and still want to do,” Robinson said.

Michelle Askin, Junior

Junior Michelle Askin got her tattoo as a sophomore last December.

“My friend’s older brother is a professional tattoo artist, and he had his license so he did it for me,” Askin said.

According to Askin, she got the words ‘one love’ inked on her wrist because she is always going to be her own, one love.

“You have to love yourself before you love others,” Askin said.

Askin explained the significance of the words as well as the appearance of her tattoo.

“I decided on purple because it is my mom’s favorite color, and pink because it is mine,” Askin said.

Michelle explained that her mother was fine with her decision to get a tattoo, but her father was not.

“My mom just said not to get anything stupid or anything I’ll regret,” Askin said. “But, my dad wasn’t okay with it.”

According to Askin, she doesn’t believe that she will regret her tattoo when she is older.