Antonio (Tony) Higgins is in his second year of Northland Pioneer College’s (NPC) automotive program at the Holbrook campus.
He never imagined college could be part of his future. In and out of trouble since he was a teen, Tony ended up spending a stint in the custody of the Department of Corrections. He said, “I didn’t really know what I was doing. I took the wrong route. But I knew I was tired of getting into trouble.”
Tony has always had an interest in mechanics. Before coming to NPC, he worked as a tow truck driver. After ten years in the towing business, he decided that he’d like to learn how to fix vehicles, rather than tow them. At the age of 39, he took a chance, walked through the doors of NPC, and enrolled in automotive courses. “I wish I had done this sooner,” he said, “But it’s alright. I’m here now, and I want to learn. The Metallica Scholars Initiative has been a blessing for me. I was scared to ask for help, but it has been awesome to have the support. It really goes a long way.”
With assistance from the Metallica Scholars Initiative, Tony has been able to take automotive classes at NPC full-time, first at NPC’s Show Low campus, a forty-five-minute drive away, and now at the Holbrook location. He said, “I look forward to coming here every day.” He sheepishly admitted, “At first, I was a ‘Mr. Know It All.’ But now I realize that I didn’t know it all. With what I’ve learned, I have been able to pull apart and put back together a 1.2 Chevy engine and, more importantly, understand how and why it works. Before NPC, I didn’t know that stuff at all. There’s still a lot of stuff that I don’t know, but I’m excited to keep learning.”
For Tony, attending NPC has not only taught him mechanical skills, but also computer literacy and how to apply for scholarships and ask for help. “I’ve learned a lot. It’s been great to have people around me who have my back.” He acknowledged, “I didn’t know how to do it on my own. By the grace of God, I was helped.” He added, “Knowing that Metallica, the band, cares about me, and about people like me who want to go to school and make themselves better… that they have my back, is awesome. I am thankful for Metallica’s support.” He stressed, “To anyone who was like me... is lost and not knowing what to do with life,” he said. “I would encourage you to reach out to NPC and inquire about the Metallica Scholars Initiative. They truly have your back.”
