Many students at AJ Dimond High School have piercings, tattoos or dye their hair. Quite a few have more than one of the three.

However, contrary to their teenagers, adults are generally against tattoos, piercings or outrageous hair color.

Junior Kat Taylor said, “People generally think I’m closed off or unapproachable when they first meet me. When I first meet someone’s parents they are thrown off by my appearance and are kind of hesitant when first speaking to me.

Junior Brandi Weilder said, “People still judge because others have piercings or crazy hair color or tattoos and it’s a really bad reason to judge someone. People say things like, how would you feel if your doctor had piercings or tattoos all over their face? And like whatever. I wouldn’t care because presumably they went to medical school and got their degree, I don’t care what they have on their face.”

It is common in this day and age for kids to use their bodies and appearance as a way of expressing themselves. Whether it be through clothes, hair, makeup or whatever they choose, everyone expresses themselves.

Weilder said, “If you want to dye your hair or have piercings or tattoos you should be able to do it. Now is our prime time to express ourselves.”

While many people have similar opinions on piercings or crazy hair, there are some that have different opinions.

Senior Brandon Thomas said, “I don’t like piercings. I think they’re gross. Girls can have one or two studs in their ears but that’s it. No face piercings or gauges and guys shouldn’t get anything pierced.”

While in opposition Junior Jane Lewis said, “I like piercings and tattoos and the thought of them. To me, plain translates to boring.”

Senior Jenna Graham said, “I like piercings but they need to be modest. You should be able to hide them, like with your ears. I think getting your face pierced is a little too much.”

When asked about dyeing your hair a different, more outrageous color there were varying answers.

Thomas said, “I think you should keep your natural hair color. I’m not against dyeing your hair, I just don’t see the point in it. You don’t need to change yourself.”

While Lewis said, “It shouldn’t matter what others think. Express yourself however you want. My parents are strict about hair and won’t let me dye it until I’m eighteen.”

To add to Lewis’ argument, Junior Mia Howard said, “You can do whatever you want to your hair. It’s your body.”

While Graham said, “I think you should only dye your hair natural colors. Very few people can pull off unnatural hair color.”

Many students at Dimond have tattoos or plan on getting tattoos. Most of them also have reasons to get their tattoos.

Howard said, “I like tattoos but they have to have meaning. If you have a yolo tattoo then you should have thought that through more.”

Thomas said, “I don’t have a problem with tattoos, they can do good or bad. I don’t see them often so it’s not a big deal.”

When asked if she thinks she will ever regret her decisions about her body in high school, Taylor said, “Never. It’s a part of who I am.”

Teenagers now are evolving and expressing themselves. They are taking charge of their life and their bodies.

Lewis said, “I think it is beautiful how many people are becoming confident and letting their true self shine through.”