Got ink? The meaning behind UConn’s tattoos

Tattoos have a stigma of either being unprofessional, but as long as it’s not on your face you’re pretty much set now – or too unoriginal (we’ve all seen the basic girl posts).

Despite the popularity of those tattoos, the majority of people with those tattoos have stories behind the intent of the image or at least a good story about going to the tattoo parlor (most of them involving drinking).  Let’s be honest, no one is going to pay a lot of money and deal with being stabbed repeatedly for something that does not mean something.

I wanted to share the stories of fellow Huskies’ tattoos so that you can see some awesome tattoos and learn the stories that inspired them.

Dan Whitehill

Sophomore, Psychology

Located under Dan’s ribs

“When I was transitioning from middle school to high school my best friend joined the football team and became really popular while I kept to myself. As the years progressed we stayed best friends, but he had other friends while I was generally alone.  One night my sophomore year I was fumbling around on the Internet and I came upon “The Breakfast Club.” It looked relatively interesting so I decided to watch it. I didn’t know what it was about exactly and didn’t expect it to impact me as much as it did.

“I related so much to a character named Brian whose failure hurt him to his breaking point. The film also helped me relate to my best friend and other people around me.  It showed that everyone has reasons for what they do and who they are, and that without the social boundaries we set ourselves, everyone can come together as friends.

“I decided on this quote from the movie because it exemplifies the fact that everyone has issues and quirks.  People’s ability to hide these things should not affect how they are judged by those around them.  I like to tattoo quotes and messages that help me through hard times, or teach me valuable lessons, so I thought this was a perfect fit.”

Lauren Richadale

Senior, HDFS

“When I was eight or nine I used to have really awful nightmares and no one could figure out why. I was scared to go to sleep because I would be scared if them or I would wake up and they would come true.

“My mom had a friend who was part Native American and she took my mom to the reservation where her grandma lived and they made me a dream catcher. They brought it back and told me it would catch all my bad dreams and the dreams would stop. I don’t know if it was the placebo effect or what, but after that they stopped.

“Every year after the first, my mom and her friend go and they make me a new dream catcher. This tattoo is a mix between one that I really like and the original one she made me when I was eight.”

Kasey Pekala

Senior, Finance

“To me, the tattoo symbolizes the idea that we all have the choice to become whatever we want in our lives. In a literal sense, we have the keys to whatever pathway we want to go down in life. The “free” above the pair of keys, to me, is a reminder to keep an open mind.

“After going through a few rough patches mentally over the past few years, I finally was able to get in the right mindset, a positive mindset. I felt like I was under a lot of pressure to satisfy everyone around me and in the process wore myself out mentally.

“I had to remind myself and come to the realization that no matter what is going on in the world around you, the only person who can make you happy is you.

“This tattoo reminds me every time I see it that I control my own destiny and if I open up my mind and let life work itself out, then I can be nothing but happy for myself because I’ve become the person that I want to be, and not the person that everyone else wants me to be.”

Kevin James Tran

Senior, Materials Science and Engineering

“This tattoo sleeve is an add-on from my second tattoo (tribal wolf was the original piece). I couldn’t work on a whole sleeve while I was in the service because I would have violated the strict tattoo policy (unprofessionalism), which would have led to me being administratively separated out.

“The overall theme is my take on the book Dante’s Inferno and the relation to my experience in the Marines: Dante’s story of going through Hell and coming back is an analogy to my years in the Corps.

“The wolves represent a very tight-knit pack/brotherhood that lasts forever, the Marine Corps. We fought, ate, slept, etc. with one another for years and that bond is engrained deep into us. I finished this part after my first deployment to Afghanistan. Dante is represented as the Pike Knight, for my Fraternity (another brotherhood I am a part of so I included the Greek letters of our motto).

“There are different Circles of Hell incorporated, such as Limbo (represented by a soul with an empty banner) and a combination creature (Lust, Anger, and Violence Circles depicted with a noose in an environment of fire, wind, and ice).

“Dante eventually reaches the inner round of the final ninth Circle of Hell where Satan (Lucifer) is helplessly frozen in place, staring up at the light coming from Earth.

“The only color in this piece comes from the red poppy flowers of Flanders Fields (World War I), an inference to part of the poem “We Shall Keep the Faith” that says “We cherish, too, the poppy red that grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies that blood of heroes never dies” for the remembrance of my fallen brothers.

“The sleeve is almost complete and part of me wants to say that it’s in regard to my own journey not being over, but saving the most painful parts to be tattooed for last does factor in quite a bit.”

Monika Obermeier

Senior, Individualized Major: East Asian Studies

I know Monika because we’re both in the Individualized Major program and when I decided to write this I knew I wanted to include her.

When asked about the reasoning behind her tatttoos, her response was:  “I really only got them because I wanted some. And being part Japanese, I decided to have Japanese themed tattoos … sorry I’m not that helpful.”  On the contrary Monika, on the contrary.  I think it’s just as important that people realize that tattoos are pieces of art that travel with you and who doesn’t want to look at a their own unique masterpiece any time they want?

This tattoo was created in 2008 by one of Monika’s friends who also happens to be an award winning tattoo artist, so you could say she was in good hands.  She wanted something to balance out the ink she had on her other thigh and let her friend design this floral piece.

Katherine McLeese

Junior, HDFS with Minors in English and WGSS

“I grew up in an abusive and violent household, but my mom was always positive. All of my life she sang the song “You Are My Sunshine” to me. So when I graduated high school and was able to move on to the next portion of my life, I got this tattoo.  It reminds me that no matter what, my mom will be there for me, and we will make it through to see the sunshine once again.”

Tania Rivera

Senior, English

“I got this tattoo to match all of my nautical tattoos. The ocean has always been close to my heart and anything pertaining to sailing or the water (or pirates!) has been a love of mine. My sailboat stands for the adventure I have always wanted in my life.

“As I set on my journey to undergo every adventure I can, I know I will live a complete life.”

Catherine Conte

Senior, English and Individualized Major: Criminal Behavior

“Don’t do that to yourself.  It’s going to be on you forever and you will regret it.”- My mother (who has two).

“You know what I won’t regret?  Knowing that I added something to my body that I actually have a say in, something that is not a scar with an unfortunate backstory, and that I will have a piece of my favorite pet with me forever when she can’t be.

“The obvious (and annoying) question is: are you going to get a paw print for every pet you have? NO. Maggie is 14 ½, and my cat, I named her and she has always preferred my company to that of my siblings. The paw print is her exact print, the words “Love lives on” is a remembrance of my grandfather and everyone I have lost. Even the placement has meaning: my sister and I both have ink on the inside of our left feet (hers is a sea turtle).

“The foot is a popular location for tattoos because you can show it off or conceal it – all that matters is your shoe of choice.”

An extra picture because she’s so darn cute

We are all special snowflakes and any way we choose to express ourselves (so long as it is not dangerous to ourselves or others) should be appreciated and celebrated.  Next time you see someone doing something strange or looking differently, don’t judge them.  Instead, ask about their behavior or the inspiration behind their body modification, chances are they have a pretty good reason.

And hey, if you see someone with an awesome tattoo, tell them to send me their story!