There are a lot of ways to express yourself. You can express yourself by wearing jewelry and certain clothes that make you, you. But you can also express yourself with piercings and tattoos. I express myself with art. I love making jewelry and I started making jewelry in my kindergarten art class. I also love making duct tape bows that I learned how to make at sleep away camp. I have been making jewelry ever since. A lot of people express themselves in different ways. I am going to share some ways that people express themselves through jewelry, clothing and art. I surveyed 27 5 th graders at MNS about how they express themselves or want to express themselves. 4/27 said they express themselves through jewelry; 17/27 said clothing which was the same amount of responses as shoes. Other types of expression represented 5/27. I also surveyed students about whether or not they thought facial piercings were okay. 3/27 students said Yes, facial piercings are ok and 23/27 said No, facial piercings are not okay. 8/27 thought tattoos were okay and 18/27 said tattoos were not okay. This means that most 5 th graders don’t think people should have facial piercings or tattoos.

There are a lot of ways to express yourself. One of the ways is through clothing. People reflect their moods or feelings with the colors and designs of what they put on. For example, if you are happy and joyful then you are going to want to wear something with lots of color. Or, if you are feeling down you might wear gloomy colors. Also, different events have different ritual clothing. For example, at a funeral most people are going to be wearing black or at a wedding a bride is usually wearing white. At an Indian wedding the bride will be wearing a very colorful and embroidered sari. These colors say something about different events in different cultures and the clothing worn to express yourself. I don't believe in fashion. I believe in costume. Life is too short to be the same person every day.” ― Stephanie Perkins, Lola and the Boy Next DoorStephanie PerkinsLola and the Boy Next Door Fashion

Another way to express yourself is through Tattoos. One reason people get tattoos is to acknowledge someone in their family or heritage. Another reason is to express their individuality. I read an article By Michael R. Mantell, Ph.D. He said, “ The fact is, tattoo-lovers are a proud lot — they have consciously taken the decision to tattoo their bodies and would like to proudly declare that they are what they are. They are ordinary people like you and me, except that they have a strong sense of identity they have no intention of hiding. They are not scared of public opinion and would love to let others know what they believe in. And good for them! ” “ Show me a man with a tattoo and I'll show you a man with an interesting past.” ― Jack LondonJack London Tattoos

Besides tattoos there are piercings people get to express themselves. When you get a piercing you will have to go to a professional to do it because it is much safer for someone that knows how to do it then a nobody that can hurt your body. Besides that you can also use piercings in an artistic way, you can get one on your bellybutton, nose, tongue, eyebrow or on your ear as shone in the picture. You can also make the earrings that you would wear. You can make them out of beads, wire, or duct tape to make it your own. “ Believe it or not, some of us have piercings and tattoos and dye our hair because we think it looks pretty, not for any deep sociological reason. This isn't an act of protest against cultural or social repression. It's not a grand, deliberately defiant gesture against capitalists or feminists or any other social group. It's not even the fashion equivalent to sticking two fingers up at the world. The boring truth of it, Gabriel, is that I don't dress like this to hurt my parents or draw attention to myself or make a statement. I just do it because I think it looks nice. Disappointed?” ― Alex Bell, The Ninth CircleAlex BellThe Ninth Circle

Ballet and every other type of dance is also a way to express yourself. When you do ballet you have to be very graceful. Even though it doesn’t sound like a way you would express yourself, it is because you are telling a story. There is also jazz, theater, tap and a lot of types of ways you can express your self through dancing. Only when I'm dancing can I feel this free.” ― MadonnaMadonna Movement

Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness.” ― Allen GinsbergAllen Ginsberg But there are also bad ways you can express yourself. Two examples are bullying and fighting, when you do that you are letting out your anger that you have kept in for a while and you need to let it out. But when you let it out it comes out in ways that are harmful.

 You should express yourself in the way you want.  You shouldn’t be shy to do what you want to do.  Always remember to be yourself!