There is this stigma in society around people who have tattoos. More specifically, people who got them young or have a lot of them. That they look tacky and serve no purpose. I am almost to the ripe and tender age of 19 and I already have two tattoos and I do not regret them one bit.

Most people do not know that I have them as they are easily covered. One is on my ankle and the other on my right shoulder blade. The first time people saw the one on my ankle, they thought it was a joke and that the tattoo itself was fake. I got my first one right before I turned 17, and I got some backlash.

People have told me that getting tattoos so young is a stupid choice and that I am going to regret them in the future. That they label me and they will make it less likely to get a job- which is false especially since they can be covered. A lot more professions are becoming more accepting of people with tattoos because it is a lot more normal to have one now than it has been in the past.

Well, with each passing day I love my tattoos more and more. They represent who I am. They remind me to stay strong and stay young at heart. I will continue to embrace them and add more to my body as I grow as a person. When I am older, I will look at them and think of all the memories that are associated with them and smile.

It is my body and if I want to put permanent ink on my body, then I will. My tattoos do and will always have a special meaning to me. The meanings may not make much sense to others, but that does not matter. They matter to me and they always will.