Surprisingly enough, in a society where tattooing is becoming much more of a norm, those who are tattooed are still so often stereotyped and discriminated against. People are quick to judge others who have tattoos. Whether someone has one small tattoo or a body covered in them, the tattooed are often slandered with remarks of how pointless, trashy or unprofessional their tattoos are.

Antioch Community High School paraprofessional and tattoo lover Suzanne Chambers said, “I think some people are predisposed for judging a person [with tattoos] based on sight, without getting to know them. Tattoos can express creativity, memories or moments in life. They can represent anything anyone wants them too, that alone is a freedom.”

Tattoos are so often judged by people before they know the true meaning. The beauty of tattooing is that it is a piece of original artwork and each tattoo is unique to its owner. Tattoos are not just meaningless pictures or words, they are a true piece of human expression that communicate more than many would expect.

Whether the meaning of an individual’s tattoo is hidden or clear, they speak to the heart of their owners as well as to those viewing the tattoos.

Senior Abby Vogel said, “[A tattoo is] a perfect representation of who each person is.”

“Tattooing is the power of having what is close to the heart engraved on the body forever.

“Tattoos are important because they communicate a person’s past and what they have been through. It also can show their future: what they want to become and how they want to represented,” said junior Destiny Fuller. “They communicate memories and meaning. When you get a tattoo, you make the decision to have that representation on your body for the rest of your life, so it must be important.”

Each tattoo represents an untold story, and the tattoos of the ACHS community are no different.

THE WANDERLUST

ACHS junior Claire Roeker’s tattoos tell the story of her need to travel and her amazing journeys.

“I have two tattoos: one of a paper airplane and the word ‘wanderlust’ and another of the Rotary symbol,” Roeker said. “The airplane, for me, represents decisions in life and how you need to make the right folds, or decisions and choices, to get where you want to be and sometimes you need to try over and over until you can make it fly. ‘Wanderlust’ means a desire for travel and I definitely have a strong urge to travel and see new places. As for the Rotary tattoo, if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be the person I am now, nor would I have experienced the things I have.”

OVERCOMING STRUGGLE

Tattoos for ACHS junior Ashley Young mean much more than just a random picture or silly phrase. Young used tattoos and the art of tattooing to help her through her life struggles and credits them for keeping her strong in tough times.

“I got my tattoo for my 16th birthday. The tattoo is a few crows on my forearm and wrist area. My tattoo is a personal reminder. In the past, I have been through a life of struggle and started to self injure. During my crisis, I went into inpatient care. Writing and drawing were things that kept me busy and content in a boring, locked facility,” Young said. “The crows on my tattoo represent being reborn or rebirth. It covers up my scars and reminds me of the struggle and how I overcame it. Interacting with people is a struggle for me, but it really helps me communicate.”

Young now dreams of becoming a tattoo artist and opening her own tattoo shop after her days at ACHS.

A PICTURE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS

ACHS students are surprised to find out a number of teachers have been tattooed, among these teachers is social worker Joseph Loffredo.

“I have two [tattoos.] One is a tribal symbol that has a really cool meaning behind it, but it’s something that is personal that several of my closest friends and I got all together; we don’t share the meaning behind it,” Loffredo said. “My other tattoo looks like an oil painting. It’s an outdoor landscape of myself, my son and my dog; it took a little over six hours. Tattooing is truly an art.”

A MESSAGE OF LOVE

Vogel’s tattoo keeps her father’s love close to her heart.

“My tattoo is American Sign Language for ‘I love you.’ It means so much to me. Ever since I can remember, every time my dad dropped me off at home after my parents had divorced, he would pull out of the driveway and throw up his hand,” Vogel said. “We have matching tattoos, and even though he lives seven hours away now, a little piece of him is always with me.”

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

What may seems like just a cartoon from a childhood game to some is much more to the screen I would get super excited, he was my favorite character,” Fuller said. “When I was seven, my dad moved away and gave me a Bomb-omb plushy. It was the only thing I had to remember him On my 14th birthday, he shared that he had taken a job in Florida. My dad wanted to give me something I would remember him by, considering he would hardly be able to see me anymore, so he offered me the opportunity to get a tattoo and I took it. I remember the good times off of my tattoo and favorite character from my favorite childhood game.”

THE GUARDIAN ANGEL

No matter what the meaning of a tattoo is, it brings the one who is tattooed closer to what is important to them. For senior Iven Hernandez, it is religion.

Hernandez said, “My tattoo is a guardian angel prayer in Spanish. I got it because ever since I was very little, I say this prayer before bed every night and I make sure I don’t forget to say it.”

THE MUSICIAN

Sophomore Margaret Ruffin keeps her passions proudly displayed on her body through her tattoo.

“I only have one tattoo and it is a treble clef. The reason I got a treble clef is because I am really into singing, and music is a huge part of my life and always will be,” Ruffin said. “Tattoos, I think, communicate who you are as a person and what you love in life. They are a way to express some things even words can’t describe.”

11 WORKS OF ART

For ACHS faculty member Chambers, her 11 tattoos are a way of expressing her feelings and attachments.

“I got my first [tattoo] at age 29, a clover, for my Irish heritage. The second one is a sun and moon that represents my daughters’ births: a morning baby and an evening baby. My favorite besides the sun and the moon is my ‘Mother Nature’ representation. It shows my connection to nature and my other career in horticulture,” Chambers said. “My other favorites are my Gaelic and Egyptian words ‘Love’ and ‘Strength;’ they remind me to be both to all and that I am both as well. All of my tattoos represent a moment, milestone or an artistic expression about my life and each of them are so unique to me.”

Chambers is a huge advocate of tattoos and the freedom of expression that they represent for everyone.