i just read this years winner for the BMEzine scholarship. and the topic for the essay was modded individuals in the workforce, why they have trouble. it is becoming more and more accepted but still not in most cases. and a lot of the people on BME are heavily modded. I am lightly modified compared to them and compared to most of my friends i am heavily modified.  anyways, this article made me grateful of my job. although there are still restrictions, there are also leneincies. I have my ears stretched and wear solid plugs, sometimes i can get away with a translucent colored plug, but i know not to wear tunnels or completely clear plugs. i have my tongue pierced and dont have to take it out as i have at other jobs. i have my nostril pierced but have to wear a retainer which bums me out because i’d love to get the other side pierced. i find it odd that the nostril isnt acceptable because thats the mod that is usually the most accepted next to ears being pierced ( on girls, a lot of places still dont accept it on boys ). I also have my chestpiece that is slightly visible if my bottom button isnt buttoned. but others have small visible tattoos and it seems accepted. a manager has her nape pierced, which i would love love love to get done, i’ve wanted that pierced probably since i was fifteen. and seeing hers gives me hope that one day i too could get away with it.  my other mods are visible so thats not an issue. but it reminds me of having to take my plugs out at Bakers Square, until i was a supervisor, then I was in charge and I did what I wanted. or the interview for Red Lobster in which i was extended a job offer by one manager and had it taken away by another manager as soon as he saw my ears. “earlobe expanders” were against their dress code. I havent eaten at Red Lobster since, and if you know me you know I love their shrimp scampi! almost as much as coke loves rum. but yea, just made me thankful for having a job where i dont have to sacrifice so much of myself. because although i always said when i was job searching that I wouldnt change how i am just to get a job, in todays job market I probably would have to in order to work in the areas that i want to work. ok. i need to get back to being productive while i can. i’ll leave you with a few shots of my mods.