This year, many high school students have been getting tattoos. Many of these tattoos represent something meaningful, such as a loss or a symbol of something important. 

Senior Caley Galarneau has a tattoo in honor of her dad who passed away.

“I only have one tattoo, and it is my dad’s signature from a note on my left forearm. I got it about six months ago. My dad passed away in a work accident six months ago, so I got the tattoo in honor of him and to carry a piece of him with me everywhere I go,” Galarneau said. 

Senior Julia Lane has a common meaning in her tattoo.

“My tattoo is a flower with a heart. I got it about a month ago. I decided to get this tattoo because my grandma passed away in February. The design is actually something that my grandma drew on a card for me about a year ago,” Lane said.

Junior Dakota Boring got his tattoo about two months ago and loves the meaning behind it.

“I wanted to have something meaningful on my body as an almost memorial, I guess you could say, for one of my friends that has passed. There are a few meanings behind it, one being the turtle dove. I chose this because it is a symbol for love and friendship. The second meaningful part of my tattoo is the clock itself. If you look at the time, it is the exact time that my friend had been pronounced dead,” Boring said.

Junior Mackenzie Kelley has two tattoos that mean a lot to her.

“My first tattoo is on my ankle and is a four leaf clover with my grandma’s birth and death date. My second tattoo says ‘think good thoughts and you will fly’ on my ribs,” Kelley said. 

Kelley has a lot of meaning behind her two tattoos. 

“The one on my ankle is for my grandma who passed away from a rare form of cancer in 2018. We had an absolutely incredible and strong relationship. She meant the world to me, and would always say ‘I have the luck of the Irish.’ My older siblings also have four leaf clovers in memory of her,” Kelley said. “I started cross country my eighth grade year, and I had an amazing coach, coach Meholic. She would always tell me ‘think good thoughts and you’ll fly’ before

my race. To have her still with me, I would write that quote on me before every race with sharpie. After this past cross country season and qualifying for states for the third time, I was finally able to get it tattooed on me. It makes it more special to me because it is in her handwriting. She is one big reason why I am the runner that I am today.”

Lane got her tattoo with someone close to her.

“I actually got this tattoo with my sister. We got the same tattoo just in different locations. I would consider getting matching tattoos with someone else, especially family members and very close friends,” Lane said. 

Galarneau has plans for future tattoos.