Student Tattoos

STORY BY JENNIFER CROUSE »
Tattoo shops have a stereotype that most people
are familiar with; you walk in, there are rough-looking,
tattooed men tattooing their equally tough customers.

This stereotype isn’t too far off, even if you don’t approve of tattoos.

Walking into Righteous Tattoo Studio in Leavenworth for the second time, what I saw wasn’t a surprising sight. My tattoo artist, Steve, was tattooing somebody in the middle of the room, and his two coworkers

and friends beside him were working hard too. They all
have a lot of tattoos, but they’re not too tough-looking
or intimidating, neither are their customers.
My second tattoo didn’t hurt nearly as bad as the
first, and Steve talked with me about my grandma,

whom he had met the last time I’d gone in, and the tattoo I would be getting at my next appointment. Overall

the experience was pleasant. Everytime I go in I feel at
home and like I have a friend there.
Just like me, many students are interested in the
practice of dragging an ink-covered needle through
their arms. Senior Griffin Oxley is one of these students.
Recently, Oxley got his first tattoo as well; a snake
wrapped around a KA-BAR, a popular knife brand, with
arrows going through it.

“It’s a symbol of dignity and bravery,” the eighteen-year-old told me, shortly before explaining how

he believes tattoos should be meaningful to the person
getting them. Even though that first tattoo on his inner
bicep hurt a lot, Oxley will not be stopping there. I asked
if he would be getting anymore ink, and his response
was yes.
“I actually am going to get one next month. I have a
date scheduled.” The next one for Oxley is going to be
just as meaningful as the first; a rosebush featuring his
mother and sisters. Many students agree with Oxley

that tattoos are meaningful.
I however, disagree, and the hand holding fire on

my left forearm will vouch for that. Tattoos are a pow-
erful way for many to express themselves or remember

things, and their popularity is growing.