- Home >
- Top Stories
Tattoo proves graduate’s Lute pride
January 19, 2007
Like most students, Val Matava celebrated his December graduation from PLU with family and friends. But unlike most students, Matava also commemorated the event by getting a tattoo that stretches from the shoulder to elbow of his left arm.
Designed by Matava, PLU’s Rose Window at sits at the top of the tattoo, followed by the word “victory,” which is spelled out vertically below. And of course, it’s colored in PLU gold and black.
“I love tattoos,” Matava said.
A few years ago, he got his first tattoo: the “all seeing eye” found on the dollar bill. At the time, he felt lost and didn’t have any direction for his life. The tattoo symbolizes a guide for his future, showing him where he’s supposed to go, he said.
“I believe I can often see the path before me,” Matava explained.
Like his first tattoo, his second also has a deeper meaning. The word “victory” honors his graduation from PLU with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, while the rose window will remind him that PLU prepared him for a life of service, he said.
Matava began his college career at the University of Texas but disliked the huge class sizes, so he moved back to Washington. He earned his associate’s degree at Green River Community College and came to PLU to pursue his bachelor’s degree.
The university’s reputation in the region and small size convinced him it was the right place for him. The smaller classes mirrored his community college experience, and “it clicked,” he said.
“Anywhere you go and ask, PLU’s reputation is good,” he said.
Matava wanted to include the Rose Window in the tattoo’s design to represent PLU’s philosophy of preparing students to lead lives of service. The idea resonated with him, and now the window will remind him of it and encourage him to give back to his community, he said.
“No man is an island,” he said. “As I go out there, I want to remember to give back. It’s easy to forget what’s really important.”
Matava didn’t originally plan to get a tattoo the day after he graduated. However, commencement weekend turned into a stressful time when he and his girlfriend broke up, he said.
The tattoo took a total of six hours over two days to complete. While Matava admits the process is painful, he contends it relieves stress because the body releases endorphins and adrenaline to react to the pain. Getting a tattoo feels great for him, he said.
“For some people, it’s relaxing, and I’m one of those people,” Matava said. “That’s why it’s so big.”
People get tattoos either for fun or to memorialize moments in their lives, he said. Matava’s tattoos remind him of points in his life that held significant meaning.
“I get them for personal reasons. Each moment is different,” he explained. “I’d definitely do it again.”
“I love tattoos,” Matava said.
A few years ago, he got his first tattoo: the “all seeing eye” found on the dollar bill. At the time, he felt lost and didn’t have any direction for his life. The tattoo symbolizes a guide for his future, showing him where he’s supposed to go, he said.
“I believe I can often see the path before me,” Matava explained.
Like his first tattoo, his second also has a deeper meaning. The word “victory” honors his graduation from PLU with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, while the rose window will remind him that PLU prepared him for a life of service, he said.
Matava began his college career at the University of Texas but disliked the huge class sizes, so he moved back to Washington. He earned his associate’s degree at Green River Community College and came to PLU to pursue his bachelor’s degree.
The university’s reputation in the region and small size convinced him it was the right place for him. The smaller classes mirrored his community college experience, and “it clicked,” he said.
“Anywhere you go and ask, PLU’s reputation is good,” he said.
Matava wanted to include the Rose Window in the tattoo’s design to represent PLU’s philosophy of preparing students to lead lives of service. The idea resonated with him, and now the window will remind him of it and encourage him to give back to his community, he said.
“No man is an island,” he said. “As I go out there, I want to remember to give back. It’s easy to forget what’s really important.”
Matava didn’t originally plan to get a tattoo the day after he graduated. However, commencement weekend turned into a stressful time when he and his girlfriend broke up, he said.
The tattoo took a total of six hours over two days to complete. While Matava admits the process is painful, he contends it relieves stress because the body releases endorphins and adrenaline to react to the pain. Getting a tattoo feels great for him, he said.
“For some people, it’s relaxing, and I’m one of those people,” Matava said. “That’s why it’s so big.”
People get tattoos either for fun or to memorialize moments in their lives, he said. Matava’s tattoos remind him of points in his life that held significant meaning.
“I get them for personal reasons. Each moment is different,” he explained. “I’d definitely do it again.”