I am a 20 year old female named Jesse from Somerville, MA currently attending school at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. I got my first tattoo last summer in memory of one of my best friends who was murdered a few years before. It's a dragonfly on the outside of my left leg and the word "Ryguy" on the inside. It's going to be connected within the next few weeks with some waves and colors to make it into a sort of leg-sleeve. I got it done by Steve at The Painted Bird in Somerville. I've been interested in tattoos and body piercing for a long time, but not until just a few years back did Massachusetts lift its ban on tattoo parlors in the state. I've also always been uncomfortable with needles and piercings which might be why I'm drawn to them. My boyfriend who is an artist played around with drawing on my body using prismacolor markers for a long time before I decided to get my tattoo. I think seeing images on my skin turned me on to the idea as well. In general my life is mostly devoted to school and work but in my spare time I can always be found at a local ska or punk show. My next tattoo after the one on my leg is going to be a ska-related image that my boyfriend drew on me in pen almost a year ago. I can't see myself getting any more piercings (besides the normal two in my ears) but more tattoos are inevitable. In fact, I can't wait.