Sitting down in the rubber chair hearing the buzz of the pen ready to be placed on the skin for your first tattoo. Those small details are enough to get your nerves going.

I just recently got my first tattoo and wanted to learn more about other peoples experiences.

I wanted to get something on my quad that meant a lot to me and my mom. My Mom and I love listening to the artist NF; we have gone to many concerts of his and bonded over his music for approximately six years now. What better than to get a tattoo that symbolizes him and some of my favorite work he has done.

Junior Keegan Lane got his tattoo in order to help someone in need.

“Ever since I was a kid I had always thought tattoos were cool and interesting, but my parents said I had to wait until I turned 18. Last year around May, I found out one of my close friend’s cousins had been diagnosed with kidney disease, and their family was raising money to help pay for the medical bills. The way I donated was to get a tattoo and give $100. My mom saw the post on Facebook and asked if I was interested, which I was. It was a way to support some of my friend’s family and to get a tattoo,” Lane said.

Making the decision on what to get for your first tattoo can be very difficult, unless it is for a good cause.

“When I got there one of the options was a sun and that was the one I instantly wanted to get. Ever since I got the tattoo and looked at it, I remembered that I helped donate to help a family.  The sun also tends to represent happiness and joy so when I see it I remember to be happy and make others happy.” Lane said.

Senior Stasia Buckalew got a tattoo with a deep meaning to her family.

“My favorite tattoo is my mental health tattoo. The tattoo represents anxiety and depression. It is something big in my family and something I want to support. The quote underneath the tattoo is one person’s craziness is another person’s reality. It’s a quote from Tim Burton who is one of my favorite film directors. My mom shares this tattoo, which is very important to me as well,” Buckalew said.

Junior Lillian Wells got matching tattoos with her mom and sister.

“I have a tattoo of three hearts on my left arm. One of the hearts is filled in because I got it with my mother and sister. All of us have one of the hearts filled in on the same part of our left arms. It’s the only matching tattoo we have so far,” Wells said.

Senior Jagger Bray has a leg sleeve and explained the meaning behind it.

“My friend and I planned to both get full leg sleeves together. Right now, I have a whole scene of the wilderness. It looks as if it is in the middle of the woods with a moon. I also have a big wolf head on my quad. The tattoo represents loyalty, strength and family. I also am planning to get a religious sleeve on my right arm once I am done with my leg sleeve,” Bray said.