Tattoos have been around for centuries, in cultures all around the world. However, a tattoo today might have less meaning compared to a tattoo a hundred years ago. Tattoos were originally used to represent a culture, symbolize something religious, and were even once believed to have healing powers to some cultures. These days, however, a tattoo could be as meaningless and spontaneous as getting an artist’s name tattooed on your forehead.

Now, I’m not yet eighteen and I have no tattoos, but I’ve heard lots of talk about my fellow seniors who are eighteen with tattoos. Are tattoos stupid and reckless? It depends. First of all, if you’re eighteen, most of the stuff you do is going to be reckless and stupid anyways. Most importantly, the things that mean a lot to you now won’t always mean that much to you when you’re 58, but the tattoo will still be there.

Trust me, I’m not just some anti-tattoo and anti-piercings nun. A lot of people in my family have tattoos, and I’ve seen good and bad. My dad recently got a tattoo on his chest, and it took him 53 years before he decided that anything was important enough to permanently ink onto his body. I’m not saying don't get tattoos ever, I’m just saying make sure they actually mean something.

The Sweetlife Festival was a thrilling experience that did not disappoint despite lackluster weather Saturday, April 28. The atmosphere was exciting from the time the doors opened at noon until the final song played around 11 p.m.

I spent most of my time in the Pit, the jam-packed mosh-pit located directly in front of the stage, but all of the seats in the covered Pavilion as well as the large lawn behind it were also at full capacity even though it rained off and on all day.

The festival was headlined by musical acts Avicii, Kid Cudi, and the Shins and over a dozen other bands and performers took the stage as well. Among the numerous bands that performed during the day, I enjoyed “Fun.” the most as their vocals and instruments sounded as good live as they sound recorded, if not better. However, the true excitement came at night, when Kid Cudi and Avicii took the stage.

It seemed like the enthusiasm of the crowd reached another level when Kid Cudi took the stage. The venue exploded with noise and the night was lit up by rainbow glow sticks which were thrown out for free to the crowd.

Kid Cudi did not disappoint, as he played songs from his first two albums with a live band that added a unique, rock feel to his music. The loudness of the crowd and the chaotic crowd-surfers in the Pit gave the festival a new energy which carried over to Avicii’s performance.

Avicii was the most exciting act of the night for me, as he ingeniously provided creative mixes of house music for over an hour and everyone in the crowd went crazy. Being a part of the large, jumping, and glowing mass of people that formed when Avicii took the stage was truly an indescribable feeling.

On top of the music, the festival also featured several fresh eating options as well as several stations which informed people of various ways to make the world a more environmentally-friendly place.

Between the overwhelming amounts of quality music, large array of food, and overall thrilling atmosphere, the 2012 Sweetlife Festival provided a mind-blowing experience which was well worth the price of admission.

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