College is a time of exploration and transformation. For many Vanderbilt students, tattoos serve as a conduit for these memories, allowing them to display their stories in a uniquely personal way. Whether impulsively inked on a spring break trip or carefully designed to honor family heritage, each tattoo is a reflection of self-expression and identity. These are the stories behind Vanderbilt students’ ink.
Jeremiah Crosswhite
Jeremiah Crosswhite, a senior majoring in psychology and art, wears his creativity quite literally on his skin. With two tattoos, he’s no stranger to expression through ink. His first tattoo — a sketch of DoodleBob — was done by his coworker, who was a tattoo apprentice at the time. It was an impulsive decision after starting college, but one Crosswhite had wanted for a long time.
“He [tattooed me] on his bed, which was kind of stupid, but it all turned out fine — no infections or anything,” Crosswhite said.
His second tattoo tells a different story. On his knee is a series of lemons, done by an artist at Sunrise Tattoo near the Nashville Farmer’s Market. This design holds a deeper message for Crosswhite, who’s drawn to the versatility of lemons.
“I’m just fascinated by how versatile lemons are. You can use every part — even the leaves and flowers.,” Crosswhite said. “That’s kind of my philosophy — to make use of every part, like a lemon.”
Despite being an art major, he isn’t interested in designing his own tattoos.
“I’ve thought about it, but honestly, I don’t care to,” Crosswhite said. “My art style is so unique, I’m not sure it would work well as a tattoo.”
Looking ahead, Crosswhite imagines future tattoos inspired by family, like a vintage clown or a ruby gem for his grandmothers.
Kevin Theodoro
Kevin Theodoro, a sophomore majoring in human and organizational development, carries his values with him through five carefully chosen tattoos. His first tattoo — a heartbeat intertwined with a cross on his chest — holds special meaning as a reflection of his Christian faith.
“The cross makes you stronger,” Theodoro said.
Another standout tattoo is a surfboard and palm tree on his arm, a memento from his first time surfing with his best friend in Los Angeles.
In the future, he envisions adding more tattoos, including his grandmother’s birthdate in Roman numerals.
Milani Naik
Milani Naik, a senior studying medicine, health and society, channels her creativity into an evergrowing collection of eight tattoos.
“[My tattoos] make me feel more authentically myself. Tattoos let you carry someone else’s art with you, which I love. They also reflect who you are and who you were when you got them,” Naik said.
One of her most memorable tattoos is a small seashell, inked on a whim during a spring break trip to Puerto Rico. While exploring with her friend, they stumbled upon a tattoo shop in a lively streetwear studio and decided to get matching tattoos. The seashell now sits on her ribcage, a reminder of college adventures.
Her favorite tattoo, a graduation gift from her mother, is rooted in her Indian heritage. The delicate sketch by a pre-colonial Indian artist depicts a mother and daughter, honoring the tradition of mothers oiling their children’s hair.
“It felt meaningful since my grandma does that every time I visit her,” Naik said.
Naik’s final highlighted tattoo is a plant-inspired design on her arm that reflects her love for henna art.
“I drew it myself,” Naik said. “This design felt special, so I sent it to a tattoo artist to interpret it in their style.”
Fueled by her love for tattoo culture, Naik recently began exploring tattooing herself. After befriending artists and receiving a friend’s old tattoo machine, she tried her hand at stick-and-poke, even giving one to a friend.
“Becoming a tattoo artist is one of my dreams; I think it’d be amazing,” Naik said.
Olivia Fang
Olivia Fang, a junior studying human and organizational development and economics, finds empowerment in her tattoos, which carry memories and connections to her heritage. Her first tattoo, a dragonfly on her back, is an ode to her Chinese roots and childhood.
“It takes me back to visiting lakes and riverbanks as a child,” Fang said. “I wanted a permanent reminder of my childhood and heritage and that I’m always experiencing transformation.”
Her second tattoo, an orange slice on her arm, celebrates her parents’ quiet acts of love. Growing up, her mother would peel oranges for her — a common gesture in many Asian cultures.
“The orange is one of the most burdensome fruits to peel,” Fang said. “My mom’s willingness to get her hands messy for me is one of the greatest acts of service.”
Often mistaken for a slice of pizza or watermelon, the tattoo sparks curiosity, which Fang finds amusing. She wants her apartment number tattooed, which coincidentally is also her favorite angel number, as a further reminder of home.
Rhylee Tucker
Senior Rhylee Tucker shows her commitment to her endeavors through her body art. A large lightning strike with a Bible verse strewn across it decorates her back shoulder and a dagger is on the outside of her upper thigh.
Tucker’s grandmother helped her develop the concept for her Biblical tattoo.
“The tattoo is solidifying a commitment to myself, a vow to myself. I’m going to follow in this path,” Tucker said.
The verse, Psalm 107:28-31, is about God helping people through storms.
“My faith has gotten me through dark times,” Tucker said.
The constant reminder of her faith on her body has made Tucker more devout and connected to religion.
Tucker’s dagger tattoo is emblematic of her time in a Vanderbilt theatre production, Love is the Greater Labyrinth. The play tells the story of Teseo killing the minotaur with a Spanish twist. Tucker played the main character, Teseo. The role was out of Tucker’s comfort zone and forced her to grow as an actress, so she wanted to get a permanent reminder of the work she put into the production and her personal growth.
“It made the show more meaningful for me,” Tucker said.
Aidan Potter
First-year Aidan Potter has two meaningful script tattoos. “Never Give Up” is inscribed on his chest with a cross and a semicolon hidden in the letters. Growing up as a dancer, Potter faced adversity with the sport he loved. Inspired by a solo he danced called ‘Never Give Up,’ Potter decided to get the phrase tattooed.
“I got it to remember everything I’ve gone through, and I’m here now. I’ve grown past all the hardships,” Potter said.
Throughout his life, Potter has also been extremely close with his grandfather, calling him his best friend. Potter took his grandfather’s handwriting from a card and got it tattooed on his forearm as a reminder of the love between them. It reads, “I love you. I love you,” and is signed “Poppy.”
Logan Keune
For sophomore Logan Keune, tattoos are more than just ink on skin — they’re deeply personal symbols of lessons learned, memories cherished and people honored.
“I personally try to make sure they all have pretty significant meaning to me. If you’re gonna get a tattoo, that’s what they should be,” Keune said.
He got his first tattoo in 2023 and now has six. One features the phrase “Iron sharpens iron,” from Proverbs 27:17. That same year, he added the number 110 on his wrist, a nod to his winning answer at the state trivia tournament. Later that year, he etched a line from Green Day’s “Good Riddance” onto his skin, a poignant memory of delivering his valedictorian speech’s closing words.
In 2024, Keune’s tattoo collection and meaning continued to grow. He added a trio of bears representing his family, a line from his favorite poem and a wingnut for his childhood nickname this past year.
For Keune, these tattoos serve as constant reminders of the people and stories that shaped him.
“They’re lessons or memories that were super important to me, and they honor the people or story that they’re about,” Keune said.
