Tattoos and other body modifications are becoming more and more common. Today, roughly 45 million Americans have been under the needle at least once--that’s at least one in every five people.

It can be argued that having tattoos can have a negative impact on a person’s ability to acquire a professional job, and that’s something I’ve always had a really hard time understanding. Tattoos are not a factor in a person’s work ethic; they are a personal story about the person that wears them. Tattoos are an expression of emotion, not a hindrance to one’s ability to perform in a professional environment.

I, myself, have always been a hard worker; I have always taken pride in earning my wages and making my own paychecks. I got my first tattoo when I was 17 years old as an early birthday gift from my parents. That’s where my obsession started. It was a powerful feeling to wear something so important to me on my skin. My love and respect for tattoos grew from that very first drop of ink. I’m now 21 years old and have eight tattoos, including a half-sleeve. Along with my tattoos, I also have a septum piercing, naval piercing, and ten ear piercings. I could definitely call my love for body modifications an addiction.

I, personally, enjoy wearing my stories on my skin and love being asked about my ink. I am a full-time Starbucks partner and get compliments and questions about my tattoos--typically several times a shift. I love when people notice them and appreciate them like I do.

To say that tattoos affect someone’s ability to work or reflects poorly on an employer or company, I believe, is completely inaccurate. No matter what profession—doctors, surgeons, teachers, business owners, or blue collar workers—tattoos do not reflect bad work ethic or poor choice in hire. I have had several jobs, and many can vouch for me that I am a great worker, regardless of the ink in my skin.

So, if you ask me, tattoos are a great way to express oneself and tell one’s story. It's an amazing thing to wear important personal feelings on the skin and carry them always. It’s a great reminder of the journey of one’s life and things a person has been through. Tattoos and other body alterations do not impact the ability of a person to work professionally, and maybe someday, we won't be judged for the ink we choose to wear.