At 13 years old, I went through old photos my mom had kept hidden from me. Her reasoning for hiding was, “I wouldn’t want you making the same mistakes I made.”

This ultimately left me shocked and worried.

 Who was my mom? What did she do? 

As I began to flip through the photos, it seemed normal; it consisted of lots of crappy digital photos of outings. 

There was one picture in particular that caught my eye. A picture of my mom at a concert and on her eyebrow, through her skin, laid an eyebrow piercing. 

Could this have been what she was hiding from me the whole time? It was all that ran through my mind. Yet I wondered, “Why was she afraid for me to see some cute piercing?”

As I began to flip through more and more photos I noticed another. There was an eyebrow piercing and a labret.

My mom went on and on telling me how she regretted putting holes in her face.

She said, “These holes are with me forever. They left forever scars.”

I didn’t see her as impulsive. At that moment, I saw her as human.

At 19 she started with one piercing. As she grew older she did another. These piercings weren’t signs of “impulsiveness,” but rather a sign of youth and fun.

Growing up I was always told to ignore piercings, to never let anyone put holes in my face. Ultimately I witnessed a growing stigma in my home against piercings. 

I mean, who cares? 

There’s always going to be an ongoing stigma against them but why? 

People say, “You won’t get a job with those piercings,” and “Nobody will want to see you as their doctor or lawyer with those.” 

Unfortunately, that’s the truth. I’ve read multiple articles and looked at tons of surveys — they all end the same. 

Tattoo artist Karen L. Hudson said, “Unfortunately, people with visible body art or piercings who seek work often find their applications and resumes at the bottom of an employer’s pile.” 

This is an issue.

Why are jobs and businesses stereotyping individuals with piercings?

Why was my mother scared to show me her life with piercings? Why would I judge her? Why would anyone? 

My mother now works as the CEO at the Sherwood Chamber of Commerce. She doesn’t have piercings anymore. However, she still has the scars. These piercings defined her then and helped her grow into who she is today.

She’s successful.  So why are businesses allowed to discriminate against someone due to a piercing? 

About a week ago I ended up getting an eyebrow piercing. It hurt, really bad. However, I focused less on the pain and more on the negative thoughts I had. I didn’t think I would look ugly or it wouldn’t fit me. Rather I thought: “Will anyone hire me?” and “Will people ignore my talents due to this piercing?”

I decided to forget those questions and focus on other things. Myself and my amazing new piercing.

This piercing is a memory, not a regret.

I hate that the world has this stigma on them. Grow up, people.

My mother grew up. I thought she would be mad at me for the piercing.

Yet instead, she embraced it. 

My mom said, “You are just like me now, beautiful.”

Yes, yes I am.