Alex Peck

Alex Peck, a senior, got a tattoo on his back right after his 18th birthday. “My parents said I either had to win state, or when I turn 18,” said Peck, “I had wanted one since freshman year.” Peck’s tattoo is of a Chi-Roo Cross, which has the word “credere” meaning “believe” in Italian. Peck is Italian, and finds the word believe to be very inspirational. This year, Peck was able to get his tattoos done at the shop “Electric Dragon Land” in Hopkins. “My parents wanted me to go there,” said Peck, “it has a good reputation and they had heard good things about it.” The tattoo took about and hour and a half to do, but Peck was accompanied by friends, “it was really painful, but some friends of mine went with me while I was getting it done. As for getting another one, Peck would like to wait a few years more, “it’s like an addiction,” said Peck, “I just know I’ll want to get another one.”

Ryan Sullivan

Senior Ryan Sullivan has two tattoos on his right arm and got his first one this year over winter break. “My first one says ‘life’ and when you look at it the other way it says ‘death’,” said Sullivan, “my other one is of musical design.” Sullivan’s parents don’t support tattoos, but understand his choice. “They let me do it because it’s my money, and I am eighteen.” Both tattoos took from an hour to an hour and a half to do and varied from $100-$150 each. The musical tattoo Sullivan got only a couple of weeks ago. “I like this one better,” said Sullivan, “I got them done at Twin City  Tattoo in Uptown.” Apart from liking the designs, each of Sullivan’s tattoos have a deeper meaning. “I love music, and I know it will always be a part of my life,” said Sullivan, “and the [life and death] tattoo gives me more meaning and remains me to make things more worth while.

Kylie Hammell

Kylie Hammell, a senior, has gotten two tattoos since her 18th birthday. “I’ve wanted a tattoo since I was thirteen years old,” said Hammell, “I almost got one when I was 16 because I was in France, but I ended up not having enough time.” Hammell, whose mother was very supported of her tattoos, has grown up around tattoos, “my brother has a couple of them,” said Hammell, “so I’ve always really liked them.” Hammell’s two tattoos have very symbolic meanings to her. The first is on her neck, and is a Japanese Fire symbol, also resembling a “K” for her first initial. As for the second, it is a lion paw print with a Leo horoscope symbol on her shoulder blade. “The second one I got was the most painful because it was on the bone,” said Hammell, who got her second tattoo over MEA, “I was originally going to get a Lion, but I couldn’t find one that I thought would fit, but I love what I ended up getting.” Even with two, Hammell believes she will probably get another one, “I think I would get some words on my [inner left] arm,” said Hammell.

Matt Kriske

For senior Matt Kriske, a tattoo was an inevitability. “I have always wanted one for as long as I can remember,” he said. “I knew that I’d be getting it the day I turned eighteen, no exceptions.” His tattoo, a black infinity symbol with ellipses above the inscription “SANE MAN,” is a reference to the work of the late Bill Hicks, a writer and comedian. “Hicks’s work spoke to me in a way few other people’s did,” Kriske said. “Some days it feels like I’m the only Sane Man in the universe, which was Hicks intent in titling his first filmed release of his stand-up the same way ‘Sane Man.'” He decided to get the tattoo on his forearm. “I wanted it somewhere prominent on my body,” he said. “So my arm, close to my hand, the tools of my trade, seemed like as good a spot as any.”