Students Get Creative with Their Tattoo Meanings

By: Damien Garcia

Tattoo artistry is an amazing way to show people art. Many people get tattoos to symbolize meaning in their lives.

Matthew Cortinas, ‘22 has received multiple Tattoos that symbolize things that are important to 

him. 

Cortinas says, “This one was a meaningful tattoo, it symbolizes the two souls that I have lost and the cross to keep me safe.” 

Cortinas explains that his tattoos were a decision that he had personally made. He says he is content with the results.

Tattoos are really cool and amazing pieces of art but, they need to be maintained properly. 

Cortinas says, “ You must keep it clean for the first three weeks and must put the proper ointment.” 

Aidan Araujo, ‘22 also has a few tattoos that have strong meaning to him. 

“The first tattoo I got I was very young, I was about 14 years old when I got it.” 

Araujo continues about his regret from this tattoo,  “I have matured since then and the ink is kinda messed up.”

 Although his first tattoo was a mistake that didn’t stop him from continuing to get tattoos.

 Araujo says a few months ago he got another tattoo dedicated to the remembrance of his father who recently passed away. 

He describes his tattoo, “it’s a portrait of my dad, and it has his birth date and the date he had passed away.” 

Tattoos require a lot of work and time. Araujo says it required 5 hours of his day for the portrait of his father to be done. 

Araujo says, It’s not hard to maintain, you just have to make sure it doesn’t come in contact with water as much in the beginning and put tattoo ointment on so it can heal properly.”

Alex Flores, 22,  received a tattoo very recently and plans to get another piece soon. 

The reason Flores got his first tattoo was because he says, “I feel like it would be a great piece of art to represent who I am.”

Peer pressure can help guide people to decisions they are unsure of. Flores was not only influenced by his father but his older brother. 

He says, “ I’m confident on how it looks and don’t regret getting it.” 

Mikey Ramirez ‘22 is one of many students who have received a tattoo on campus. 

Ramirez says “I got my tatts for my parents, my right arm is for my pops, and my left arm is for my mom.” 

Ramirez says he was self-influenced and “it’s something I’ve always wanted since he was 13.” 

Tattoo’s are seen as bad and good depending on who the person is and what he/she is viewed as. Some people say it is bad because people use them for the wrong reasons, others say it’s good because it has meaning behind it. 

Ramirez says “One of my tattoo’s is my pops favorite bible verse” he says he has no regret and he is content with the ones he has received. 

Mikey  says “I’m not done yet!” 

“It’s not really difficult to maintain but it just gets itchy and that can get annoying” – Mikey Ramirez

If you’re interested in getting tattoos in the near future make sure you think long and hard about it. Don’t forget it’s permanent! Keep in mind that you make sure you will be content with your art and it has meaning behind it.

When someone gets a tattoo with meaning they will most likely never have regrets in the future. 

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