All throughout my high school career, I have wanted something that my parents have always forbade—a nose ring. I just wanted that cute little rock in my nose, an easy piece of jewelry, and I thought I had a good nose for one. Time after time I asked my parents and mostly my mother said “NO NO NO,” and to go with that, I was afraid that a nose ring and water polo wouldn’t really work well together.
Once I got to college though, there were girls on my team who had piercings, and after some research, I realized I only had to wait 72 hours before entering a pool. The little birdy telling me “NO NO NO” was not there anymore, and being a rebellious teen, I just had too! One three-day weekend, after practice, I went to a tattoo parlor with some friends and as they got a tongue piercings and doubles, I got my nose pierced.
Yes, it was rebellious and against my parents wishes but it was almost more then that. It was just fun for me to separate myself from the parental authority and do something that I really wanted. Paying for the piercing itself, cleaning it and developing my personal college image were all individual choices; finally, I was making my own decisions, in a roof other than my parents, creating an identity separate from my past.
I told my parents as soon as I could because 1) I never had the intention to lie or sneak about it, 2) even though I knew they wouldn’t like it, I knew they wouldn’t love me less (hopefully). After telling my parents, they both got mad for about two days. But, then my dad reached out to me and said something that I will never forget. My dad said two things: 1) if it was a hoop or stud (stud) 2) if I was done and there was no more bullsh*t with other piercings and/or tattoos.
He put it very simply. He knew that I already made and liked my decision yet he asked these two things in order to protect me and to make sure I was still “his little girl.”
I like my nose ring. I made an individual choice for my image and respect myself more that I stepped unto my own step stone. I know I went behind my parents back and everything, but hey, at least I’m not doing drugs.
