As a person with tattoos, I will never stop hearing people tell me, “Why do you have tattoos?” “What are you going to do about employment?” and “What do your tattoos mean?”.Anyone who notices my tattoos ask me those questions. Every. Time.

I get it. People are curious. I always ask people what their tattoos mean, simply because I’m curious as to what they mean to them. But I HATE when people ask me what I’m going to do about employment. Why is it your concern? Does it affect how you are going to live your life? No? I didn’t think so. Carry on with your life then.

I love my tattoos. I wouldn’t change a thing about either of them. I love looking at other people’s tattoos. I don’t judge others' tattoos because I don’t want people doing that to me. I think everyone has a unique taste which is represented on their body. I respect that. I love the art of tattoos, the details that go into them are amazing.

I choose to have tattoos because I truly believe that they show a part of me that I can’t explain using only words. They show my strength and determination. People get tattoos for all sorts of reasons. I don’t always agree with the tattoos that I see, but I respect them; I don’t know the story behind them, who am I to judge?

I have tattoos because I want people to see who I am. I want them because they are a physical representation of who I am. I don’t have them simply because they look cool or make me look like I’m more tough than I really am. I have them for me, not for everyone else. I don’t care if you like my choice of having them. It is my body and I will choose to do with it as I will.

I get annoyed when people ask me how I’m going to hide my tattoos. Why do I have to hide them? Can I not show them off proudly? They are not inappropriate in any manner. You wouldn’t be the first person to tell me that there are jobs that do not want visible tattoos, and again, I respect that. But do you not think I knew that before I got the tattoos? I purposely had my tattoos placed in areas that I can “hide.” I thought about it, believe me.

I’m a girl with two tattoos, which if you ask my mom she never thought in a million years that I would tattoos. But have they changed who I am? Not one bit. I’m very much the same person. Tattoos are a form of art; an amazing form of art. I respect people, both with tattoos and without. I love my tattoos, isn’t that all that matters?