Las Vegas, Sin City: the place you go for a weekend you’ll never remember. This is what most people think of when they think of the strip. For me, there is a drastic difference. Vegas is a place of knowledge for those who have no outlet of their own, a place for community with a family you never knew you had and above all else a place to continue to move a growing industry out of the dark and into the light.

It’s taken a full week to find words to explain everything I have experienced at Conference. Now, as I sit here trying to put those words to paper, I still cannot fathom how wonderful this opportunity has been for myself and the other scholars. The generosity of everyone who donated to the scholarships amazes me and I cannot thank them enough or tell them how much I appreciate the chance I was given.

The pull of modifying my appearance began as a young child—being just another face in the crowd made me feel as if I was invisible, easily passed over and forgotten; but now, being a part of this industry, I’m starting to feel more comfortable in my own flesh and I have no one singularly to thank for that feeling except for the community as a whole. Becoming a piercer has shown me that it is possible for me to help someone else struggling to be themselves and I am humbled by that prospect.

While at Conference I met some of the most exquisite human beings I have ever encountered. Being able to “nerd out” with them and spend hours talking about piercing particulars in detail has left a feeling a camaraderie that won’t ever fade, so I thank them for being willing to open themselves up to forming new friendships and becoming industry affiliates. Especially to the group of scholars that I had the chance to make lasting personal friendships with, I adore each and every one of them immensely for who they are and the fact that they are also trying to improve themselves and the shops they work at.

When I first signed up for a full week of classes I was intimidated by the workload I had ahead of me. Once I got there, however, I realized it wasn’t as bad as I was imagining it to be. A few others had mentioned that it was probably one of the smoothest Conferences to date, both for attendees and all volunteers; for that I am eternally grateful. Of all the classes I took, a few stood out more than the others: Safe Practices in the Sterilization (and Piercing) Rooms, Septum’s: Where Skill Meets Luck, Needle Theory, and Studio Documentation. After taking those classes I realized how lackluster my apprenticeship really has been and how much I absolutely do not know in regards to piercing safely and knowledgeably. It put a fire under my tail and made me desire to better my studio as a whole and myself for the sake of my clients. There is a lot that I don’t know, and I will be forever learning in this industry to help provide the safest, cleanest, most professional piercing that I am physically capable of performing.

In this world there are many different ways of learning and teaching to get the lesson across to a wide variety of individuals. Personally, I find the most success in learning new material via hands on experience. To quote Benjamin Franklin, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

Going to Conference, I was able to be part of a large community of people who all travel hundreds of miles yearly to learn more about their chosen career path so that they also can provide the safest procedures for their clients. This has helped me become a better person in and outside of the studio. To everyone who works endless hours and without sleep every single year to make the APP Conference run as smoothly as it does, to every single last volunteer who helped with registration, class credits, and any questions anyone may have had while in Vegas, and to every single attendee who works tirelessly every year to afford going to APP – keep doing what you’re doing. You are changing lives and not just your own. Thank you for this beautiful and unparalleled opportunity we are all given each year to better ourselves and our studios for the safety of our clients.

What an amazing convention that was! I had never been to Vegas, let alone a convention of body piercers, so I had a fantastic time. I am sure that my life will never be the same. Now that I have been home for a couple of weeks and readjusted to home life, I have had some time to think of three key subjects that I really brought away from the Conference.

I was stunned and intrigued by the beauty of the modified and bejeweled bodies of the attendees. This was a walking tribute to the cutting edge of self expression and individuality. The mods. The piercings. The jewelry. The dress. It was a majestic spectacle of human style. I decided to step up my game and join in this circus show of design. I am inspired. I will keep you all posted as I morph.

The professional training I received in marketing and online sales will be the key component to my future business plans. I am currently refurbishing the most adorable trailer into a fully functioning tiny studio. I will be relying on an online presence to book my clients and sell my jewelry. The tips and tricks that I learned in class will save me a ton of research time as well as money.

It was also great to meet my colleagues face to face before befriending them on social media. I feel that after a personal meeting I would be more comfortable trying to glean a little more information from them than I would after just a cold online meeting. I feel like a professional with distinguished colleagues. Sounds adult doesn’t it?

The mystical and mysterious healing powers of the shamanic practices had a place there. I enjoyed the classes that referred to those ancient ways and our modern application. I treat my clients with reverence and great love when they are needing a healing. I would like to further develop my skills in this area, and I look forward to sharing my experiences with those of similar mind at Conference next year.

It is with profound appreciation that I extend my heartfelt thanks to you all for selecting me. It is a progressive idea funding scholarships. I hope to pay forward the opportunity you shared with me to another aspiring attendee soon.