2008 Woodie Awards
Stand out
by Katherine Von Nessen
Issue date: 3/17/08 Section: Opinion
For spring break, many people went out of town, visited friends and family, or just enjoyed themselves. I stayed in town, but ended up doing something I never thought I would. I had my tongue pierced.
A few years ago, several friends did it. I remember thinking it was gross and assuming it would hurt. It was never something I even considered doing.
But as time went on, I began to see it not only as a fashion statement. It is a way to prove one's strength through tolerance of pain, even though it did not hurt as much as I thought it would.
When I got out of the Army, I wanted to be able to do everything I was never allowed to do when I was in it. Soldiers can't have piercings while in service. By getting my tongue pierced, I felt like I was finally getting to express my individuality.
Plus, I think it looks cool. Sometimes when I get nervous or bored, I pick at my hair. Now I distract myself by twirling the bar that's pierced through my tongue. So it also gives me something to do.
I happened to be visiting RC's Tattoo and Body Piercing studio over the break. I recognized Barry Cowan, a friend and fellow sophomore at Piedmont, working there. He told me he was an apprentice piercer there and had been doing piercings for a few months. I asked him what it was like to have his tongue pierced, since he has three. He explained the process to me and I decided to go for it.
Barry did a great job, and believe it or not, it didn't hurt at all. I felt a slight prick on the bottom of my tongue. After that, I didn't even feel the needle go through. It bled for a second, then stopped. Barry told me to keep ice on it for the first few days, as it would swell, and to rinse with mouthwash after every meal.
The next day, my tongue was swollen; that's when it hurt the most. But after that, the swelling subsided and I could eat and talk normally.
I am glad I got a piercing. People ask me why I did it. I say that it's one more way of standing out in crowd.
A few years ago, several friends did it. I remember thinking it was gross and assuming it would hurt. It was never something I even considered doing.
But as time went on, I began to see it not only as a fashion statement. It is a way to prove one's strength through tolerance of pain, even though it did not hurt as much as I thought it would.
When I got out of the Army, I wanted to be able to do everything I was never allowed to do when I was in it. Soldiers can't have piercings while in service. By getting my tongue pierced, I felt like I was finally getting to express my individuality.
Plus, I think it looks cool. Sometimes when I get nervous or bored, I pick at my hair. Now I distract myself by twirling the bar that's pierced through my tongue. So it also gives me something to do.
I happened to be visiting RC's Tattoo and Body Piercing studio over the break. I recognized Barry Cowan, a friend and fellow sophomore at Piedmont, working there. He told me he was an apprentice piercer there and had been doing piercings for a few months. I asked him what it was like to have his tongue pierced, since he has three. He explained the process to me and I decided to go for it.
Barry did a great job, and believe it or not, it didn't hurt at all. I felt a slight prick on the bottom of my tongue. After that, I didn't even feel the needle go through. It bled for a second, then stopped. Barry told me to keep ice on it for the first few days, as it would swell, and to rinse with mouthwash after every meal.
The next day, my tongue was swollen; that's when it hurt the most. But after that, the swelling subsided and I could eat and talk normally.
I am glad I got a piercing. People ask me why I did it. I say that it's one more way of standing out in crowd.
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