On Jan. 16th, 2019, senior Jessamyn Lomas got her first tattoo, and she made certain it was not one without meaning. To make sure her first tattoo was special, Lomas decided to get a matching one with her best friend, something she had been wanting to do for a while.

Lomas and her best friend, Julia Jacob, met in second grade in 2008. Their families immediately bonded and decided to take a trip together to the Okefenokee Swamp.

“The Georgia half of the swamp is famous for big arching cypress trees. The two of us had a notebook we drew in during the trip, and looking back, there were so many of those trees, so we thought it was fitting to have that memory and that part of us tattooed on us forever,” Lomas said.

When she was in middle school, Lomas thought she’d never want a tattoo because they are stigmatized as irresponsible and a waste of time and money. As she got older and began thinking more for herself, Lomas developed a new opinion on tattoos.

“I think tattoos are awesome. Anyone who tells someone not to get a tattoo because it’s too permanent or they’ll regret it or that they won’t be able to get a job because of it are the reason tattoos are stigmatized and are stuck in an outdated mindset,” she said. “Times are changing.”

To Lomas, there is no question that tattoos are a form of art.

“After being in the tattoo parlor for over four hours watching my artist work, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that tattoo artists are some of the most talented people in the art world,” Lomas stated. “Imagine sitting there for hours, bent over, meticulously moving a needle across someone’s skin to create an intricate image.”

When she first entered the tattoo parlor, Lomas was extremely nervous because it felt like such a big step toward adulthood, but the workers at the tattoo parlor made her feel welcome.

“They were so nice. They didn’t act like we didn’t know what we were doing or as if we were naive. My artist, Austin Archer, was so great. He made jokes with us and laughed and helped us to get comfortable,” Lomas said. “We were constantly talking and asking him questions and he was just so cool about it and answered everything with complete honesty. I would go back in a heartbeat.”

When asked if she would recommend others to get tattoos, Lomas believes “it’s a great experience and a good way to get to know yourself. I wouldn’t recommend just going in and picking a design, but that works for some people. My advice is, and always is, you do you.”