College Ink: Responsibility Mandatory

Every kid goes through the question “Should I get a tattoo?”

For most kids the idea is about rebellion and looks and “how will mom and dad react?” but for many others it is about expression and dedication. In college, when kids are given more freedom, both financially and from parents, getting a tattoo is a tightrope walk of responsibility and fun, on which every student tries to not fall off.

In 2009, the average credit card debt for a college student ranged around $2000. Along with this students were getting a mean monthly income from work of $453 and $312 from parents.

So after all the shopping, food, booze, books, and entertainment, how much is really left for that first little star on your foot or “MOM” on your arm? Not enough at all

Most students by the end of the month can’t afford enough money to fuel coffee for all nighters and do their laundry, yet according to the Pew Research Center 40% of people ages 18-29 have at least 1 tattoo.

This means that many students are spending money they don’t have on tattoos, when many actually come to the conclusion that they don’t like what they got done.

So does this mean that age defines who is responsible enough to get a tattoo?

While many might believe this question is answered by the simple fact that you can’t get a tattoo until you are 18, that’s not entirely true.

Many kids today are growing up faster due to outside sources that generations before us have not had to deal with in such great amounts, such as the availability of illegal drugs or domestic abuse.

When looking at college students who take on the load of school, family, sports, work, friends, and acting as their own parents while away from home, responsibility is thrown onto them and expected.

So when the time comes to make the decision of whether to get that first tattoo or not when no one is standing in the way, responsibility lays in the scales: can you afford it, will you love it forever, and can you defend getting it?

On the MTV show “College Life”, a show focused on college freshman with cameras filming themselves during their first year, cast member Jordan is shown definitely ignoring his scale.

Jordan weighs his debt of school tuition he has to his parents (both of who work full time jobs) and instead spends $2000 on a full arm tattoo, an average amount for many tattoos.

Jordan stands out as a major warning flag to college students in the US: make sure that getting a tattoo won’t come back to hurt you, in money or regrets. Getting your first tattoo defines whether you really are responsible or not.