BY GAVIN SMITH

By law, people under the age of eighteen are not legally allowed to modify their body without parental consent; however, a few number of students at Mariemont High School have already begun to make permanent changes to their appearance.

Body modifications, or any deliberate alterations to the human anatomy, range from piercings to tattoos to even subdermal implants. Barring the typical earlobe piercing, modifications are uncommon among the students, so those who adorn these adjustments stand out from the rest.

Junior Jade McIntyre displays one of the most evident body modifications of the student body: gauged ears, or stretched earlobes.

Another student who has a more hidden body modification is Senior Riley Henderson. Last Spring, Henderson got a tattoo with his mother’s permission on a family trip in Las Vegas. Henderson now displays the words “Pride, Loyalty, Respect” on the left side of his ribcage; all words he says to be very important to him.

Henderson went on to say, “My body is a canvas, I think it’s so awesome to be able to say I have art on me for the rest of my life.”

However, not everyone shares these praiseworthy views on body modifications.

Senior Gabe Deemer recently got his septum pierced, sometimes called a “bull ring” for its location in the center of the nose. Though within a week of having the piercing, Deemer took it out. “I don’t regret getting the piercing because it is easily healed and concealable,” Deemer said. “I got the piercing on an impulse and ultimately decided that I looked better without it.”

Deemer warns his fellow students by saying, “When making a modification to your body, be absolutely sure that you want it; sometimes modifications are much  more permanent than mine and once they’re made they cannot be changed back.”

“Opinions on tattoos are typically polar; you love them or you hate them,” said Mauri Hogan, who has two tattoos herself. “Tattooing is the utmost form of self-expression, “said Hogan. “When you get a tattoo, it is forever on your body, and will always express the reason behind getting it.”

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