Big Rapids has three tattoo shops open now that the town can browse. This has made ink common in Big Rapids, and many students and residents have stories about their tattoos.
Being a college town, Big Rapids has a constant flow of young adults trying to find their place in the world. Ferris is the stage for these students to figure out who they are.
Tattoo in Big Rapids. Photo by: Jordan Wilson | Multimedia Editor
Big Rapids resident Josie Schebil received her first tattoo on her outer forearm. The tattoo, a memorial for two pets and a friend that had passed, was a successful and easy process for her.
“What persuaded me to get the tattoo was to be able to have something very memorable and meaningful with me forever,” Schebil said. “My family was also very open when it came to tattoos.”
Schebil stressed that having a meaningful first tattoo was her most important objective. Her first tattoo went well, so she shared her advice for first-timers to make theirs just as smooth.
“Make sure it’s not just a trend or the cool thing going around. I would also tell those getting their first tattoo to look into placement, so they know what form of pain level to expect,” Schebil said.
Even if parents disagree with tattoos, they aren’t about fitting in. They can be a memorial, dreams, favorite characters or symbols. The point is creativity. Co-owner of TreeTop Tattoos in Big Rapids, Shawn Flagg, has created a wide variety of tattoos in his 15-year career as a tattoo artist.
“A lot of people feel like they have to have some kind of strong belief or meaning for the tattoo to get it and I understand that,” Flagg said. “Personally, I’m just here to put good tattoos on good people.”
Families sometimes make getting tattoos a family tradition. Parents match with their children or siblings to symbolize their relationship through ink. Sharing a tattoo with your parent can often times be a bonding experience.
Business administration graduate Sydney Palmer has a matching tattoo with her mom, which was her first tattoo. She received it in New Orleans on her 18th birthday. The ink symbolizes an important childhood memory for her.
“[My mom and I] got lilac flowers because when I was younger, our neighbor grew lilac flowers and I would steal them to bring to my mom. It was just a cute little thing between us,” Palmer said.
Her first tattoo was an easy process, so Schebil shared her advice for first-timers to make theirs just as smooth. She stressed that having a meaningful first tattoo was her most important objective.
Trends quickly fade, yet tattoos are permanent. Flagg spoke about how he has done many cover-ups, even over his own work. As an artist, he has to work with a client on the placement and working the old tattoo into the new one. He also suggested holding onto an idea for at least a month.
“It’s hard to talk someone out of a bad tattoo when they want it. Their 18-year-old self compared to their 20’s to their 30’s is different. You have to be flexible in this field,” Flagg said. “It takes many different jobs to get the skill sets to do this.”
Tattoos have been a mode of expression for centuries and continue to endure today. The painful inking process attracts many and turns just as many away. Tattoos are personal expressions of identity, memories and creativity. For college students, they can symbolize newfound independence but it’s important to think carefully before getting inked.