High school is an enlightening and vulnerable stage. Students want to distinguish themselves among the thousands of teenagers around the school. One way students reveal their personalities is by tattoos and piercings

Senior Hope Hudson wanted to change up her style. She got her septum,  the skin right under the tip of her nose, pierced the summer before her sophomore year. Hudson rationalized that not many people have this piercing, so she would be different and unique.

Most students imagine it would be difficult to receive parental consent, but Hudson had no problem. Hudson prefers to wear small and delicate earrings in her septum piercing. Hudson wears her septum ring with pride and may get more piercings in the future.

“Sometimes I just get bored and want to change up the way I look. That’s why I got my septum pierced, and that’s why I have pink hair,” said Hudson.

Junior Glen Hooper is involved in the piercing and tattoo business. Hooper is working on his stretch lobes (letting your earlobe stretch into a big hole) and his tattoo designs. Hooper has a septum piercing and earlobe piercings. He enjoys expressing himself in a way other than most teenagers express themselves. He wants to look like his brother-in-law, who has 1.5 inch stretch lobes and is all “tatted up.”

Hooper is also learning how to design tattoos. His brother-in-law owns a tattoo business, and Hooper works with him Thursday and Friday after school and all day Saturday and Sunday. Once he is legal to get a tattoo, Hooper definitely will.

“Tattoos and piercings are not the thing for everyone [but] they are a good way for me to express my self. I respect the art,” said Hooper.