Cassie Forsyth | Arts & Life Co-Editor
“Tattoo Tales” is an ongoing series that features Buena Vista University students’ tattoos and the stories behind them.
Senior Caitlin Hoffman currently has four tattoos. She got the first one spontaneously during her freshman year of college and then continued to plan subsequent ones since then. Each tattoo is important to her and has a specific meaning.
“All my tattoos have that symbolism behind them. They actually really, really mean something to me, and that’s why I choose to use them as art on myself,” Hoffman said.
The first one she got is placed on her foot with the word “imagine” accompanied by daisies. Daisies are one of her favorite flowers, and the word came from a John Lennon song.
“The meaning behind it is so important to me, especially because I’m so into volunteering,” Hoffman said.
She got a tattoo on her wrist during her sophomore year. It says “happiness” accompanied by the letters “P,” “G,” and “D.” Each of the letters stands for family members who have all passed away from different causes. They taught her the meaning of happiness, which is why she wanted to put the word on her body in an obvious spot that would lead to discussions with others.
During her junior year, she got a tattoo on her right shoulder that reads “No hill for a climber.” Her late uncle used to say the phrase to everyone in her family.
“If you think about it, it’s not really a hill if you’re a climber,” Hoffman said, “So now my dad always texts me during finals and stuff saying ‘No hill for a climber.’ I figured it was about time I put it on my body.”
The most recent tattoo she got is on the back of her neck. It says “renmen,” and it stands for “love” in Haitian Creole. Hoffman went on an AWOL trip to Haiti last spring, and she got the tattoo because it was such an amazing experience. The tattoo symbolizes both the place and the people.
The placement of her tattoos is difficult for her. She wants to be able to hide them for a job, but at the same time, she doesn’t think she should be turned down for a job simply because she has ink on her body.
“It’s kind of a battle for me. I love my tattoos and they define who I am, so it’s hard for me to think that I’m not going to get a job because of them, so I’m not afraid to put them in other places,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman already has plans for more tattoos in the future.
“I will keep tattooing until the day I die,” Hoffman said. “Everyone always says ‘your body is a canvas.’ That’s how I feel. How else are you going to express yourself, better than using your own body? That’s kind of my goal.”
Photos courtesy of Caitlin Hoffman
