My tattoos are a statement accessory in my everyday life and I absolutely love them.

A little over two weeks after my eighteenth birthday I knew I had to get my first tattoo. I know what many of you are thinking, "Sam, you just wanted to get one because you finally could without your parent's permission." Well yes and no. When I was getting my first tattoo I had a roller-coaster of emotions, like what if in ten years I hate it, what if my parents kick me out, and what if it hurts. I spent countless hours researching and watching YouTube videos before the big day. Two years and four tattoos later, I can honestly say-- eighteen year old Sam, you did good!

My First Tattoo: XII XXVII

On October 25, 2014, I lost my tattoo "virginity." This tattoo has and always will mean the world to me. I've known since I could remember that I wanted a tattoo for my grandpa who passed back in 2004, but I also knew I wanted one for my grandma eventually. Luckily for me my grandparents shared the same birthday just in different years. Thus the roman numerals: December 27th, their birthday, was drawn up. This tattoo will always hold a special place in my heart, not just because it was my first tattoo, but because of the amount of happiness and love these two very incredible people brought into my life. Growing up, my mother has always told me that I was constantly with my grandparents. They taught me valuable tools I will always use further use in my life, such as things like: how to love, how to support one another, how to be happy, even how to walk. From what I can remember and from the countless stories I have been told, my grandfather was my everything and I was his as well. Not a day goes by that I do not wonder how drastically different my life and my families lives would be if we didn't lose such a crucial asset of our family. My grandmother, on the other hand, has always been my best friend. She is by far the greatest woman alive (aside from my mother), she is always encouraging me to be the best version of myself and loves me for my rights and my wrongs. Thank you, grandma and grandpa, for everything you have done for me, and I mean everything. There will always be a piece of you with me, forever and always.

My Second Tattoo: La Vita è Bella

I decided to get my second tattoo on July 22, 2015. Quite some time after the first one, but I had a really hard time pinpointing what I really wanted. This is when I permanently had the phrase "Life is Beautiful," in Italian scripted on me. All of the events, heartaches, and happiness can instantly come over me by looking at this phrase written on my ribs. It is crazy how something so simple, can have that much power. I, being almost full blooded Italian, knew I wanted something to incorporate this major part of who I am. I remember very clearly that I was going through a stage in my life where everything was new. At the time, my family was going through a dramatic change with my parent's separation. I needed a little reminder to make sure I knew that no matter what happened the day before, when I wake up, life will continue to be beautiful. I found myself not really dealing with the pain inside, rather letting it all build up to explode at random and inappropriate times. To this day, I still remember the true meaning behind this tattoo; but now it grew into another meaning for me. Over the past year, I have come to realize that I love to travel and I am dying to travel the world. This "Life is Beautiful" tattoo now holds another reminder to me, that I want to experience all aspects of life and this beautiful world we live on. I will not settle for the comfortable life I am living forever.

My Third Tattoo: A Tiny Heart

This next tattoo was created on August 7, 2015; one of the best nights I have ever had. I am so beyond grateful I have this tattoo and I don't think anyone really knows that. I hear comments all the time like: Why would you get such a small tattoo? Why would you waste your money? What if you three are never friends again? I do not have the patience for questions like this. My body is my body and I would never ever regret this tattoo. This "tiny little heart" means more to me than the thin black lines; iinstead,this has the ability to take me back to a night of no parents and no worries. The other two ladies in this picture, whom also have this heart on their wrist, are by far two of the sweetest and most amazing friends I have ever had. Going into college I was so scared that I was not going to make any friends and I am so blessed to say that right away I had reconnected with one and met another beautiful girl. This crazy August night was the first time we were coming together in a few months and would be the last time for over a year, but we didn't know that at the time. This night was the ultimate dream. I don't remember sleeping. What I remember is driving recklessly on the highway outside of New Haven (sorry mom). I remember sitting on a beach at God knows what time, just enjoying meeting new people and life.

All I knew is that these ladies gave me the best Freshman Year I could have ever had and I don't think I will ever be able to thank them enough. We had the night of our lives and what better way to end it then with a tattoo. I look at this tattoo multiple times a day and every time, I am brought back to that night and just how happy I truly was. I felt free, which was not very common for me. No matter how lame it is to say, I found a piece of myself that night. Like I said before, I will never ever regret this tattoo.

My Fourth and Most Recent Tattoo: An Arrow

So finally my fourth and most recent tattoo. On March 24, 2016 I decided to be spontaneous... once again. Don't worry, I did think long and hard about this tattoo, but the timing was out of the clear blue. The reason I wanted this tattoo was the meaning behind it, "An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backwards. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it's going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming." Another meaning of a single arrow is protection from the evil and negative forces.

Each of my tattoos are very important to me, but this one in particular holds a special place in my heart. At the time I was going through a bad breakup and I was trying to build myself back up from all of the negative people in my life. I had such a hard time with this because I was looking for happiness in all of the wrong places and people. These people know exactly who they are and after being around these certain people I realized I was only going backwards, but why? How was I going to benefit from this? One random day I saw that quote above about the arrow tattoo. This hit home for me. It was as if someone had wrote it for me. My life was dragging me backwards into becoming someone nobody would enjoy being around, especially not myself. I was selfish, but in my heart I actually cared more than anyone knew. Better late than never, I was finally shot into a new and exciting life. I am now someone who can confidently say they are happy beyond words and I have people who care about me more than I have ever felt cared for in my life. I am so glad I smartened up and focused on the good things in my future. Although I am very happy now, I still want to make note that I am beyond thankful for the experiences and people I encountered during this time because if I am being honest with myself, you helped shape who I am today, remember that.

These four tattoos make up my character and I promise there are more to come.