There has always been a great debate among people about whether having tattoos and/or piercings and how it makes people perceive you. Some people are completely disgusted by it, while some others see it as proof that you have lived.

If you ask a person about their tattoo and what it means to them you immediately see a spark in their eye. It excites them that someone else has noticed their "story". Because every tattoo has one. If someone were to ask me about each of my four tattoos, I would tell them every story behind each one. As well as my ten piercings (all in my ears).

My first tattoo I got in memory of my daddy. It was not one of the usual "In Memory Of..." It is a quote that means something to me. It says, "Always on my mind, Forever in my heart". Under it is the day he passed away because I will never forget that day. And under it is his actual signature that I found off of an old DirectTV bill. I never knew how much I would cherish a bill.

My second tattoo is a dream catcher and roses. To some it may be the basic white girl tattoo but to me it symbolizes strength and power because I was going through a hard time in my life. Whenever I look at it, it reminds me to stay strong no matter what I am going through at the time.

My fourth tattoo is a compass with the coordinates to my home around it. It shows me how far I have come, how far I have to go, and to ground me to never forget where I came from. This tattoo my mom got also. It made me feel connected to her more because we have matching tattoos.

I got my first hole in my ears when I was five years old. A hairdresser did it and I was freaking out and crying the whole time. My second hole was different. I was in the second grade and I wanted it. I felt so cool because I was the only one with them at the time. I got my third hole done about a year ago because my mom had hers done and I liked how it looked. I also have two cartilage piercings, a daith (helps with migraines), and a forward helix. Remember piercings can always grow back up and go away.

Now if I wouldn't have told you I had tattoos or piercings, how would you have perceived me? And now that you know that, what changed? I hope nothing because just because I have stories to tell and a permanent ink in my skin doesn't change who I am. It shows that I have lived. Tattoos are permanent and symbolic, they will never leave you or change what they are unless you intend to do so.