I am 20 years old, I have 7 tattoos, 14 piercings, a job, a high school diploma, a trade school certification, and I'm on track for a college degree in 3 years.

Never once have I been denied a job because I have tattoos, I have not been overlooked because I have a hoop in my nose, and the piercings up and down my ears did not get in the way of me applying for any sort of education.

Nowadays, the older generation sees tattoos and piercings as a sign of rebellion because that's how it was back when they were the millennials of their time. However, in this society, piercings and tattoos have become signs of expression, freedom, and artistry. I don't look at someone else with tattoos and think, "Wow, I feel uncomfortable." On the contrary, I ask them about their ink and if it means anything to them.

It comes down to this: my body is my body and I can choose whatever I want to put on it.

That may be some seriously awesome ink, some pretty cool piercings, or even how I dress. To me, I don't believe that tattoos should be taken lightly because yes, I DO know that it's on me (potentially) forever and I DO realize that it costs a *ton* of money to have them removed. No, I won't regret it because I thought it through, and yes, I'll look super cool as a grandma with tats.

If you assume that somehow I don't function as a "correct" member of society just because I have ink and some piercings, please look around and see how many jobs DO employ people with tattoos or how understanding employers are when a shirt sleeve can cover them up.

Thus far, my piercings and tats haven't prevented me from getting anywere in life and I'm pretty positive that that won't change in the future.