Is getting a tattoo as a teen a form of rebellion or expression? Tattoos are becoming more of a common site in society today, and some VHS students have decided to join the trend.

While most of the tattooed seniors waited until they were 18 to even start thinking of tattoo ideas, Senior Kiera Murphy knew she wanted a tattoo well before then.

“I’d been thinking of some different ideas for a really long time, but there was nothing that I was really dying to get… and I wanted it to have a good meaning.”

After playing with the idea of the tree of life, Kiera finally found the tattoo she was searching for when her mom suggested a Banyan tree. “A Banyan tree is a native tree from Guam, which is where my grandmother is from, and the tree is very spiritual to the natives there.”

Kiera plans to get another tattoo sometime in the near future, but of what, she isn’t sure yet.

Senior Will Biron has also decided to follow the trend set forth by Kiera Murphy and many other VHS seniors and get a tattoo of his own: the Seven Wonders of the World. Will says he thought a lot about this tattoo and it’s really important to him. “It represents a constant reminder to put things in perspective and to leave behind a legacy.”

This trend of meaningful tattoos even carried on between siblings. Senior twins, Matt and Gabe Riccatelli, both have matching tattoos that are a symbol for the word “twin.” Both brothers also have a second tattoo as well, Gabe of a turtle, and Matt of the letter R.

“Tattoos are great because they are art,” said Matt, “I really like them… they may be painful but they are definitely worth it.” Matt also says that getting tattoos is “addicting,” but stressed the fact that “you have to be careful what you choose and make sure it’s really cool.”

While many other VHS seniors have continued to get tattoos as well, some don’t share the same love for this tattoo frenzy.

“Not that I’m against tattoos, if you know what you want to get, but if you’re just 18 and you decide you want a tattoo, you shouldn’t just pick the first thing that comes to mind,” said Senior Alex Luehs. “It’s such a permanent thing and you have to realize that it’s going to be on for the rest of your life, so you need to pick something you really want– otherwise it’s kind of pointless and you have to keep it there forever.”

Other VHS seniors shared Alex Luehs’ thoughts about tattooing as well. “I don’t think that I would ever get a tattoo, but I’m not against them as long as you get something that really means something to you and you take a long time to think about what you really want to get before you get it,” said senior Michele Robson.

Overall, this year’s senior class seems to be leaning towards the pro-tattoo side of this argument, most saying that they see tattoos as a means of expression rather than a spontaneous act of rebellion. Now the only question left is, “Will you join the trend?”