I'm working toward a bachelor's degree in English education, which requires many hours of field experience to achieve. This means that I spend time in local schools as a student teacher, tutor, etc. while also earning college course credit.

A year ago, I was reading with a kindergartner as a part of the after school program in which she participated and, of course, as a part of my field experience. As she cracked the spine on the picture book we were about to read, she glanced down at the cursive writing scrawled across the top of my foot made visible by the flats I was wearing and asked, "What's that?" I'd barely opened my mouth to explain that it was a tattoo when she suddenly became distracted by another student nearby. We never broached the subject again because, much to my surprise, she never asked.

The moral of this story is that even with five tattoos—many of which are visible—the art on my body had absolutely no effect on my ability to teach this young girl nor her ability to learn. We met twice a week for several months and that was the only instance in which she—and any of the other students, for that matter—commented on my tattoos. My tattoos even went unnoticed in a classroom filled with eighth graders every day for an entire semester. My appearance meant very little to them because I'd channeled their focus toward each day's lesson, not the way I looked.

I know what you may be thinking: "you were just a student teacher, you weren't getting paid, they don't care what you look like because you'll be gone in a few months, etc.," and while that may be true, I was still in a professional environment and expected to present myself as such. I dressed in casual business wear each and every day, and I conducted myself quite formally. I portrayed myself as a professional, and so I was treated as such.

Despite the testimony I've given, the question still remains: can you be a professional with tattoos? My answer is yes, absolutely. Your doctor, dentist, accountant, or professor may be covered in body art, but you pay no mind, as you may never see them because they may be cloaked in clothing. Even if they are visible, your focus is (or should be) only on the quality of the service which they provide you. What we choose to do with our bodies should have absolutely no bearing on our skills and abilities, particularly in our fields of expertise.

This concept, clearly, does not apply to tattoos featuring nudity, profanity, or any other derogatory material. Body art of this nature will certainly cause issues in the workplace, but tattoos of this type are not the focus here. I mean only to discuss the tattoos that conscientious adults have saved money for and have done research to seek an artist of merit. I'm referring only to people who take as much pride in the ink on their skin as they do their careers, and if that isn't a true professional, then who is?

I'll admit that I'm guilty of contemplating the placement of my tattoos in regards to my future career, but I never allow that decision to define my success. I can express myself through my own skin and still present myself professionally. I can sport an awesome piece of art and teach a mean lesson on Shakespeare's "Macbeth." I can be who I am and pursue the career that I'm passionate about because I'm dedicated and determined to do both.

There are many, many people like me who continue to add to their body art collection while working tirelessly toward their career goals. I know that if I were an employer I would be searching for that kind of drive in an employee, and I sincerely hope that as body art becomes more socially acceptable, I'll continue to encounter more and more tattooed professionals in the workplace.