Kids are allowed to cut and dye their hair. They have the option to pierce their ears, belly buttons or noses (or god knows what else).

So why is it so taboo for a high schooler to cover his or her body with tattoos?

According to Fox News, only 10% of high school students worldwide have tattoos to “broadcast to the world what they are all about.”

Two students, senior Taylor Rapp and freshman Noah Loeliger, do flaunt their ink on the Campolindo campus.

Loeliger sports a “Z” on his arm to honor his family, who died in Zimbabwe. “I got the tattoo because all of my family got a tattoo at my age. My parents were on board with it, and my friends think it [the tattoo] is pretty cool.” Loeliger got his tattoo in Fiji. As of now, he only has 1 tattoo.

Rapp had his tattoo applied on September 22 of this year, at Sacred Rose Tattoo in Berkeley. Rapp’s tattoo is a Storm Trooper wearing a powder blue tuxedo with roses underneath.

“Storm Troopers make me think of an easier time when my brother was home and we would play with action figures together and watch Star Wars,” said Rapp.

Tattoos can have a powerful meaning. They can complete a story and tell a lot about the people who have them. They can be sentimental or remind a person to be strong, no matter what struggles one might have to face.

“My tattoo means ‘be yourself.’ In Star Wars, Storm Troopers are all the same, unquestioning and following orders. I wanted to give them a life and personality. I believe in being yourself at all costs,” explained Rapp.

Both Rapp and his parents are pleased with his new ink. “My mom was amazed to see how well it’s done. It’s perfect. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. It’s the perfect representation of who I am and what I stand for,” said Rapp.

Admittedly, tattoos put a lot of people off, but I approve of high school kids getting them. They are a freedom of expression, just like clothes. Some can tell a deep and meaningful story.