Terri's Story~

--> Meet Terri:

I work at the May Center with kids with brain injuries. I was a teacher in a classroom for eight years, and I've been the Associate Director of Education for about a year and a half. I oversee a number of classrooms, planning and creating IEPs (individual education plans) for each student. I supervise the staff within my classrooms, as well as work with the students, parents and school districts. When needed, I also help out with behavioral support within the classrooms. 

Growing up, I never thought that I would get a tattoo. That obviously changed as I got older! I don't rush into anything, so the two tattoos that I have were planned out way in advance. I don't have any plans for another one, but I wouldn't be opposed to it either if the right design came my way. 

Tattoo Stories:

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I have 2 tattoos. My first one I got for my 25th birthday. It's on my left forearm. It is the open heart symbol (same symbol as the jewelry line from Jane Seymour @ Kay Jewelers). "Keep your heart open and love will always find its way in." My mom and I are really close, and she is always lecturing me about getting out there and meeting new people. Getting this tattoo was my way of reminding myself of all of my mom's lectures about keeping my heart open and letting people in--something I still have a hard time doing sometimes!

For my first tattoo, I had a friend from college come with me as part of my "birthday weekend."

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I got my second tattoo when I was 30. My work was doing a fundraiser for our students, and a tattoo parlor in Boston said they would donate ten percent of the cost of each tattoo back to our students. My second tattoo is the infinite symbol with an arrow.  

"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming." 

2013 and 2014 were tough years for me. My mom was diagnosed with cancer for the 3rd time. My aunt was hit by a car. I lost a close friend to cancer. Dealing with all of that, while dealing with my usual stresses of life was starting to drag me down. This tattoo was a way to remind me that even though things are tough right now, it will get better. 

 For my second tattoo, my sister came with me because she was planning on getting one as well.  

   

Overall, my friends and family were supportive of me getting each tattoo. The only thing my mom had to say was, "I hope it hurt!"