Tattoos serve many purposes. For me, they serve as reminders. I don't know if there is a more beautiful form of a reminder in existence. In addition to being permanent reminders, tattoos are also art. Although tattoos have had a negative connotation for a long time, we are finally beginning to see them for what they are—a form of expression. I hope that one day, tattoos will be associated only with beauty and not with inerasable "mistakes."
In a lot of ways, tattoos have been an alternative to destructive tendencies I'm not proud to have. Physical pain has always been my go-to way to express inner pain. When I turned 18, I was finally able to trade angry red cuts for true, beautiful art.
Where my skin was once riddled with swollen, red lines, I now have a simple, geometric sun. The imperfections represent that I am not a perfect person, but the beauty of the simplistic design reflects my beauty. I chose a sun to remind myself that, just like the sun, I am essential to the universe, and, just like the sun, I can't see my own light, but other people can. What was once ugly and filled with pain has now been replaced with something beautiful—something that I am proud to wear on my wrist every single day.
My experience with tattoos has probably been similar to that of everyone else with tattoos. I get the common questions: "What does your tattoo mean?" My tattoos mean something different depending on who's looking at them. "You do realize that those will last forever, right?" Yes, that was part of the agreement. "Will you be able to get a job with those?" I sure hope so. "How do you know that you'll like it 20 years from now?" I don't. But if it's important to me now, I hope that it'll always be important to me in some way.
So, potential employers, I hope that, no matter what you personally think about tattoos, you will not deny me a job just because my skin is marked by art. I hope that you will see them for what they are or else choose to look past them. It would be extremely unfortunate for you to miss out on someone who would be a great asset just because you can't see past his or her skin. I did not choose the color of my skin or my hair or my eyes, and I did not choose where I was born. I did not make a conscious decision to stop growing at 5'1" or to have bad eyesight. But I did choose something that was in my control—to mark my skin and meet my own definition of beautiful. If you cannot discriminate for the things that I didn't choose, try not to discriminate for the things I wanted for myself. But, please, if you cannot accept the art that makes me love myself more, do not offer me a job and judge me every time I come to work. My tattoos do not make me a bad person or a bad worker. On the contrary, I believe many places would be glad to have me. And I believe that many employers will recognize my tattoos as a part of a story. Now, potential employers, do not settle for me if you cannot accept me. But if you can't accept me and my fellow tattoo-lovers as we are, I suggest you attempt to see this art for what it is—beautiful expression that makes us better, not worse. Next time you see a tattoo, take the time to wonder what its significance is to its wearer and how maybe, just maybe, it might be taking the place of a lot of pain.
And, to my future tattoo-bearers, do not feel bad if you don't get a job at a place that does not allow visible tattoos. We know what we are worth and that our tattoos do not define us. Look instead for the people who will welcome you into a job with open arms, tattoos and all, and accept you for the person you are.
