When I was little and told my parents I kind of wanted a tattoo, my dad told me "professional people don't get tattoos." Being fourteen or fifteen at the time, I didn't know many "professional people," and certainly none who had tattoos, so I believed him. I wasn't really convinced that would be a good reason to not get a tattoo, but at the time I was absolutely terrified of needles and figured that was a sufficient disincentive to keep me from getting one.

I got older, and maybe a little wiser (or not; the jury's still out), and went to college. Imagine my surprise and glee at finding out one of my professors, a man who was a member of the honors college no less, had a tattoo, high on his arm, but low enough it showed when he wore short sleeves. I was delighted, and finally had my proof that "professional people" do have tattoos. Since then, I've kept a peeled eye for every tattoo I can find, many of them on my peers, all students at college, from all different majors. As I fought my fear of needles by donating blood for the Red Cross, it became harder and harder to find a reason not to get one of my own.

A month into my junior year, I decided I had waited long enough, got a recommendation from a friend, and scheduled an appointment. I dragged my friend out to the parlor with me, and she hung out for an hour watching me watch a guy stab my arm with a needle hundreds of times. I had been convinced I would never be able to watch, afraid of needles as I still was, but less than halfway through I was transfixed by the artist working. One month out, I have zero regrets.

So here's the case for getting that tattoo you've always wanted, why not? Getting a tattoo is unforgettable, painful, sometimes expensive, usually safe, and probably not regrettable.

I am convinced that I will never forget my first tattoo. I spent years waiting for a reason to get one finally, months sitting on that particular design, weeks for my appointment to finally arrive. With all that build-up, and the wonderfully weird healing process, how could I ever forget it?

I will be honest: it did hurt a bit. My tattoo is mostly on the center of the inside of my forearm. That's a pretty soft area, not a lot of bone, and for the most part, the pain wasn't that bad. I've heard it compared to being scratched by a cat, but with something extra, too. When the artist had to creep closer to the inside of my elbow or wrist, however, the pain was much, much sharper. But it was never unmanageable, and even with my fear of needles and inability to watch my blood being drawn, I loved watching the artist work.

A tattoo can be expensive. I paid $100 for one hour of work, which is a little steep, but it was worth it. This is an investment that is going to be with me the rest of my life; a piece of artwork I can carry around and be complimented on. It was more than worth the cost.

Most people's concerns, and my biggest, in particular, was safety. What if it's infected, what if I'm allergic, etc. These are all reasonable things to think about, but, honestly, nay-sayers like to forget all these same conditions apply to getting your ears pierced, and you don't see nearly as many people arguing against that. Besides, there are some easy ways to avoid those concerns: recommendations, reviews, and the Feds. I went to a place that was recommended to me, and therefore someplace I knew had given someone else a good experience with art and aftercare. I read the reviews on Google, Yahoo, Yelp - there's a whole world of consumer reviews out there, and they're incredibly informative about what's good, what's "meh," and what you should downright avoid. Finally, the parlor I went to received yearly check-ups from both local and federal governments about safety, cleanliness, and the rest, and they always had good reports. If you still have concerns, you can also talk to the artist, and they'll be happy to tell you how the whole thing works. Just be smart, like making a smart investment, and you can't go wrong.

Finally, I've heard people say they regret their tattoos. Well, I've heard on person say it: my 80-year-old neighbor, when I couldn't even distinguish what his tattoo was anymore. I don't know why he regretted it, but knowing him, he probably got it impulsively. He was that kind of kid when he was my age. If you spend more than 30 seconds thinking about your tattoo before you actually get it, chances are you won't regret your first tattoo, or any of them. It's like customizing your body, the same as a piercing or the clothes you wear, and as long as you have a reason for getting that tattoo, you'll more likely than not never regret a thing.

So there you have it, folks! Getting a tattoo is an unforgettable experience, painful, but in a good way, a good place to put your spending money, not as dangerous as you might think, and an adventure you will probably not regret. But, more than anything, having a tattoo is fun in a nearly indescribable way. It makes you unique; it's a great conversation starter, and, if you get a more meaningful tattoo, it can help remind you what's important in life. So, all in all, you should definitely go out and get that tattoo you've always wanted. There's really no reason not to.