Jon Smith, a senior at Conneaut Lake High School, has a medium sized tattoo of a wizard on his back. He received it last March because he just “wanted one.”

Wizards have no particular significance for Smith who picked the image from a tattoo parlor book full of various designs.

“I just liked the wizard (picture),” said Smith, who thought about getting a tattoo for a while and knew one thing before entering the parlor — he wanted the tattoo on his back so he could expand on it later with more tattoos.

Smith’s approach to tattoos is not unique for his generation. Tattoos and piercings have become a very popular mark in society today, but many teenagers put little thought about the mark they are placing on their body permanently.

Through out history tattoos and piercing have meant everything from tribal status to transforming a person into the symbol burned onto their body. Today they don’t seem to hold the same connotation.

“When I got mine I didn’t get it for any particular reason,” said 16-year-old Lindsey Galbo of Saegertown.

She has a red star tattooed to her upper back and actually brought her father with her to the parlor.

“It was my birthday,” she said. “Something I can think back when I’m older my dad took me to get my first tattoo.”

While she didn’t put much thought into the symbol, she decided to get something small so it will be no big deal if she doesn’t like it when she gets older.

While Galbo followed the Pennsylvania law that states anyone under 18 must have parental consent to be pierced or tattooed, not every teen or parlor follows the rule. There are parlors willing to take the risk despite the fact that technicians caught tattooing or piercing a minor without consent can be fined hundreds of dollars and/or imprisoned for three months.

A Conneaut Lake High School senior who prefers to remain anonymous received her tattoo from a local parlor despite being underage and not having her parent’s permission. The heart tattoo was placed on her hip so that it’s easily hidden for work and from other unwanted viewers.

Placing a tattoo in a hidden place sometimes proves to be a wise decision because those who get tattoos or body piercings sometimes find there are unwanted consequences.

Samantha Harrison, a sophomore at Conneaut Lake stated she had no true reason for getting two lip piercings that were done spontaneously. She literally just woke up one morning and went that afternoon. Both her parents even consented, though her father would rather not see them in. Unfortunately her place of employment wasn’t as understanding. They told her to take out her piercings or quit. She quit. She plans to get either clear spacers for a new job or apply at Hot Topic at the Millcreek Mall in Erie, where piercings are allowed for employees.

Bey is a senior at Conneaut Lake High School.