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Whether it is a favorite flower, symbol, saying or phrase, cartoon character or tribute to a lost loved one, tattoos are a growing trend on college campuses like the University of Louisville.

Everyone has their own reasons for tattooing; some believe it may be looked upon as a rite of passage. For college students who don’t have to get Mom or Dad’s permission to express themselves, part of the excitement may be hiding it from their parents or better yet, the un-veiling of the art to friends and family.

Some may have ulterior motives for the art. For others, tattoos may be a way to show off a “wild side.”

According to Marvin Zuckerman, a professor emeritus of clinical psychology with the University of Delaware and a renowned authority on sensation seeking, in the article, “Body Art Shows Gender Preferences,” people sometimes use tattoos as a signal for potential mates.

They can show that a person is adventurous and is looking for someone with that same spunk.

Men in college, more so than women, may get tattoos because of the sensation it provides, which, for some, is similar to riding the highest and fastest roller coaster as stated in a study by Texas Tech University Health Services.

But what happens when these students have graduated college and move out into the real world, possibly a world that may frown on that show of individuality that was once looked upon in college with awe?

There may be career concerns, a change in tastes or the tattoo could be outdated.

“If I do get another tattoo… it would be in a place that wouldn’t hurt my chances of getting a job,” said sophomore electrical engineering major Branden King.

Decorating the body isn’t like decorating a dorm room or apartment. If a person gets bored with that yellow and green wall paint, they can just slap on a new coat.

As reported in the Washington Post, a recent Harris Poll indicated that almost half of the women between the ages of 18-29 years surveyed had at least one tattoo and that 17 percent of all tattooed Americans regretted ever getting it.

“What if 40 years down the road my tattoo gets old, saggy and faded?” said Eric Cox, a freshman mechanical engineering major.

Many people experience “buyer’s remorse” after making a large purchase like a car and realizing they are locked into a contract for five or more years of their life. It gets worse when the purchase is that of a house and the person is looking at 25 to 30 years.

Imagine how it feels when the realization hits that the body art could be a lifelong commitment.

While getting tattoos is a growing trend, the trend of getting rid of those same “must have” impulsive tattoos is a growing trend as well.

Dermatologists have always been the norm when getting tattoos removed, but it may be costly and take several visits to remove the ink.

Some hair removal centers and beauty salons are now adding tattoo removals to their menu of services available.

The use of lasers to remove unwanted hair can be the same used to remove the unwanted tattoos.

The question experts may be focusing on is do students keep the same hair style, wear the same pair of glasses or the same clothes through high school, then through college, and then to work every day after graduation?

People change, and at this point, tattoos don’t.