The Penn

Ever since Hannah Ketterman (senior, psychology) was a tot in awe of Sea World, her life's aspiration has been to become a professional dolphin trainer.

"People always laugh when I say that, but I'll be laughing when they're in the audience at one of my shows," Ketterman said.

For as long as she can remember, Ketterman has collected the dolphin figurines that now cover her bedrooms in Indiana and Pittsburgh.

Though over the years, a few might have been lost or misplaced, one shall remain as an indelible mark on Ketterman's right hip.

When she was 17, Kettering's father agreed to take her to get a tattoo as long as she didn't tell her mother.

As a freshman at West Virginia University, Ketterman, two friends from her dormitory and her cousin Brittany decided to have Chinese symbols meaning "Don't hold back" tattooed onto their right feet at Thinkin' Ink in Morgantown, WV.

Ketterman kept her promise until her mother saw her second piece on the way to Sunday service at their church a year and a half later.

Her little sister Leah, "spilled the beans," informing her mother that she had another tattoo.

"We were literally walking through the church door and I pulled my pants down [a bit] and told her," Ketterman said.

Though at first her mother was appalled, Ketterman convinced her mother, Beth, to get a beauty mark tattooed high on her cheekbone.

"She prefers to call it her 'permanent cosmetic,'" Ketterman said.

Permanent cosmetics, or micropigmentation, is considered to be a cosmetic surgery used to cover up scars or as a cosmetic option that frees up the time and money spent on water-soluble cosmetics.

As a freshman in high school, Ketterman began to pencil a freckle onto the apple of her cheek. Realizing that someone would notice if she stopped, Ketterman opted for a permanent cosmetic.

Tattoo artists at South Side Tattoo in Pittsburgh used special ink to freckle the faces of Beth and Hannah Ketterman.

Ketterman returned to South Side Tattoo July 22, 2008 for her 21st birthday with her father. While she had "Romans 3:23" inked just above the Chinese symbols on her right foot, artists inked a Celtic cross onto her father's arm.

The bible verse, a favorite of Ketterman's, states, "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

For Ketterman, the combination of the two tattoos on her right foot means, "say a prayer, but let the good times roll."

"It just helps me keep in mind to go for it, but be cautious," Ketterman said. "I know I fall short."

When her little sister turns 18, Ketterman will likely go with her to get matching tattoos, Chinese symbols signifying big sister and little sister.

Though Ketterman may feel she falls short in some areas, she won't allow herself to fall short of her dreams. Ketterman intends to intern at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Fla., in pursuit of her goal.

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