We have been taught that we shouldn’t judge others based on their appearance, yet many conveniently forget that principle when it comes to tattoos.  People with tattoos are judged to be less intelligent, less dedicated, less educated and less employable.  These statements are unfair, and in many cases, blatantly untrue.

I am tattooed.  I got my first tattoo a few months after turning 18 and the second one the summer after.  They don’t change who I am as a person, and they sure as hell don’t mean I will work any less to achieve what I want than I would have if I weren’t tattooed.

I’m dedicated.  I’m hardworking.  And I’m stubborn as hell.  Once I put ink on my body, those traits didn’t disappear.

When I was thinking about getting my first tattoo, both of my parents tried talking me out of it.  They said I would ruin my future job opportunities and a tattoo would make me look trashy.  Being my stubborn self, I went ahead and got the tattoo anyway, not allowing their dislike of the idea to taint the experience.

I don’t regret my tattoos.

To some, my tattoos are seen as a sign that I am lazy, stupid and have no self-control.  I’ve been told I look like a tramp, and I’ve been asked why I would willingly scar my body like that.  I’ve even been told that having a tattoo means I am going to hell.  And maybe I’m naive, but I don’t see how a little bit of writing on my skin could change who I am as a person to that great of an extent.

My ink has meaning for me, and my tattoos make me feel more comfortable with myself and my body.  I got my tattoos for deeply personal reasons and I love them.  They are a form of expression and they don’t change who I am as a person.

My tattoos don’t define me.