DUNCAN — Duncan High student Jake Brown has a tattoo of a cross with a ribbon wrapped around it on his upper arm.

Although still a work in progress, Brown has had the tattoo for about four months. The tattoo is in honor of his grandfather.

When Brown discussed getting the tattoo with his mother, his mom wasn’t keen to the idea of him getting the permanent marking. But she let him make the choice.

“It’s my own body; I can do what I want to it,” Brown said.

Some Duncan High School students have taken to tattooing their bodies as a source of permanent self-expression, while other students feel there are better ways to express themselves, including by their choice of clothing and art.

Brown’s isn’t alone in his quest to express his individuality. Other students also have tattoos. Although Brown plans to add color and his grandfather’s name to his tattoo, he has more ideas of other tattoos he’d like to add to his body in the coming years.

But for every student who wants or has a tattoo, there are other students who either don’t see the point or see the tattoo or see it as unwanted graffiti.

“Tattoos are ugly,” Jackson Moffatt said. “I’m just never going to do it. I don’t think they should be doing that to their bodies.”

Some students view getting a tattoo as a right-of-passage, especially since many have to wait until they’re 18 to obtain one. In that way, getting a tattoo is like purchasing a pack of cigarettes, enlisting in the U.S. military or applying for a voter’s registration card, they say.

Although some students do put thought into what type of tattoo they want, others go off a whim. That leaves other students wondering how proud they’ll be of that Tweety tattoo when they’re in their 40s.

Brown could tell you the next four or five tattoos he has in mind. He claims the response he’s gotten to his arm tattoo has been positive.

Even though he knew what style of tattoo he wanted, he admitted to being somewhat apprehensive when it came time to get it. It’s a permanent decision. Plus there’s that physical issue.

“It’s scary when you hear the buzzer going off,” Brown said. “But it doesn’t hurt.”

The youth also claim getting tattoos can be addicting. This could be why some get multiple tattoos, even after complaining about how much their first one hurt.

But the only issue isn’t whether students think tattoos are a good idea. There also comes the question on where to get a tattoo.

For the most part, there are certain places students acknowledge as not being ideal for tattoos, especially when it comes to tastes. Talking with students, they some places people should avoid getting tattooed include the lower back, the face or scalp, and the neck.

“Some people put profanity on their bodies where everyone can see it,” Moffatt said.

Because of dress codes and appearance regulations at the high school, students have to present themselves as school appropriate. Like the dress code, students cannot have visible tattoos that promotes alcohol, tobacco or other controlled substances. And they can’t have visible tattoos that display offensive language or illustrations. They also cannot have tattoos with gang affiliations.

According to the dress and appearance regulation, “Any clothing, make up, hairstyle, jewelry or accessory that causes a disruption in the educational environment will not be permitted.”

Cheyenne Batties doesn’t plan on getting a tattoo but isn’t completely against them. But Batties isn’t a fan of all tattoos.

“It depends on the type of tattoo they have,” Batties said. “I don’t like when people get things with alcohol or drugs.”