Many are reviving an old tribal practice as a means of personal statement.

Whether used to resist conservative society, symbolize a subculture, or simply look cool, body piercings are marks of individuality and expression for many.

For Brianna Theodore’ 12, who has a belly button ring and nine distinct cartilage piercings that cover nearly the entire length of her ear, they are a mark of rebellion and personal empowerment.

“My parents don’t know about my belly button,” Theodore said. “But finally this year I decided it was my body, and I was going to get it done at some point regardless of their opinion.”

Theodore recalls being inspired by various celebrities, such as Beyonce Knowles and Vanessa Hudgens, who sport belly button rings, and explains that her decision to get one was based on an intuitive feeling that it would be fitting to her self-described bold personality. Notwithstanding the knowledge that others, including her parents, frown upon the trend, Theodore is confident in her choice.

“Some label it has trashy, but I rarely hear that,” Theodore said. “For the most most part people love it, and if they don’t, that’s ok, I still love it.”

Sage Vernuil ‘12, who has a round silver stud on each hip, feels similarly. Though she is sporting a less common, but growing trend of dermal piercing, Vernuil states that piercings have a personal appeal that outweighs all opinions of others.

“I don’t really consider society or making statements when I get them,” Vernuil said. “I guess they can be seen as rebellious sometimes.”

Her decision was a rebellious one indeed. Vernuil went to the Milford Mall without her mother’s knowledge to get the piercings done.

“She ended up finding the receipt on the floor, so I eventually told her,” Vernuil said.

Vernuil explains that her inspirations were the photos she saw on Tumblr of unique body jewelry on unexpected sites, such as the wrist. Her decision to follow the trend was a bold one, as dermal piercings are essentially permanent, and require removal by a medical professional.

“It was a little painful but I have a high pain tolerance” Vernuil said. “I have a lot of people point and stare at them, but I also get a lot of compliments.”

In addition to her hip piercings, Vernuil previously sported a tongue ring that she removed since it impaired her speech.

“I took it out after five minutes because I couldn’t talk with a lisp,” Vernuil said.

Social Studies teacher Carol Avery had much different reasoning behind her spontaneous decision to pierce her nose. For Avery, a piercing is not merely a cool accessory but a mark of youth and zest.

“I had never wanted it done, but it was my birthday, and I was feeling old, so I drove down to the piercing place in Norwalk and had it done,” Avery said. “I had been in Italy the summer before, and my cousins had it done, so they were my inspiration, but before that point, never any desire whatsoever.”

Apparently, Avery’s piercing indeed fulfills her desire for a youthful aura, as it is a frequent prompter of personal conversations with her students.

“Most of them say, ‘Oh my god I never noticed that;’ then they ask if it hurt,” Avery said. “Then they usually compliment me on it.

Avery recounts the mild pain and “scrunch” sound of the needle going through her nose, but claims that the pain of an ear cartilage piercing was surprisingly worse.

“That hurt forever, I had to take it out and let it close up.” Avery said. “But I have to say, I am so tempted to try it again!”