I have two tattoos, but you would never know because I tried to hide them. Why? Because I was told if I were to get them at all, to get them in a place that nobody would see them- especially not employers.

But, being the rebel child that I am, I got them anyway. First, a tattoo of one of my favorite quotes, “still waters run deep” on my ribs. Second, a tiny arrow on my ankle with my sister’s name in Morse code dashes and dots in the middle. My sister even got a matching one with my name in the middle!

I absolutely love both of them and believe them to be beautiful and define part of who I am, but it makes me sad to know that nobody gets to see them. That is, unless I am completely nude. So I ask myself, why did I get them hidden?

Because society says that tattoos are bad.

It has been engrained in our heads that tattoos are trashy and symbolic of non-professional people. If this is your opinion, that is fine, but I challenge you to read on and see tattoos in a new light because this is not a perspective that is often considered.

Tattoos are beautiful.

First and foremost, tattoos hold so much meaning! (Yes, even the ones that people regret.) Personally, I don’t think there should ever be regret behind a tattoo. At some time in your life, you wanted to get that tattoo. It could have been for any number of reasons- you were in love, you were on vacation, or you were just plain drunk. It doesn’t matter! At that one moment and for that one reason, you wanted that feeling, that story, or that memory represented in ink on your skin and now here it is. That is glorious.

Secondly, tattoos say so much about the person they cover. They embody character, and moreover, one’s actual life. In essence, tattoos can document the existence of a person on this planet. A broken heart, a symbolic image, a loved one- all can be represented in ink. When I was young, I never talked. My mom actually thought something was wrong with me because I was so shy. Instead of playing with my classmates, I spent my days in preschool alone at the art table, painting day in and day out. My mom would cry with worry, but one day one of her friends gave her confidence that I would be successful. He told her not to worry because “still waters run deep.” In my first year of college, when I realized how much I had grown as a young woman, I decided to get this tattooed on my ribs.

Everyone was opposed, but “still waters run deep” represents my internal evolution as a person so I felt it important to keep on my side as a reminder that I am more than the shy girl I feel like sometimes and that I have the strength to overcome any challenges that come my way. With tattoos, we are able to document our lives on our skin. We are able to record our own story and project it for the public to see that we have lived a life full of memories. How wonderful is that?

Third, a tattoo does not symbolize “trash.” Sure, there are people that cover their entire bodies with offensive images or distort their own faces with ink and I don’t necessarily think that these people represent themselves as responsible adults. But a few tattoos here and there or even full sleeves don’t make someone any less professional or smart! Maybe the person just appreciates the beauty of the art or maybe they have a lot of feelings in their minds that they want to portray on their bodies. My sister has two tattoos and she is in the honors engineering program at Gonzaga. My mom has a professional career and she has a tattoo. My own boss at my internship has a full sleeve of tattoos and he is the boss of an entire company… tattoos don’t make someone any less capable.

Last, think about the physical talent behind tattoos… There are some truly talented artists out there. I love to draw and I am an accounting major, but truthfully my dream job would be a tattoo artist! We all know how hard it is to draw on flat pieces of paper, but somehow tattoo artists manage to create masterpieces on squishy, curved, sometimes fat-laden human skin. That’s an incredible skill and we need to show their hard work off!

I’m not saying you have to get a tattoo or that you have to like the idea of them. It’s all very subjective! But I challenge you to have an open mind about tattoos. Don’t judge someone for the ink they have on the outside of their body, judge someone for the character they have on the inside of their body.

P.S. Adam Levine is covered in tattoos but is gorgeous and talented!