Metallica Scholar finds confidence in herself

For ECTC industrial maintenance student Misti South, working with her hands gives her a sense of accomplishment.

“I like the feeling I get when I see my work completed – taking something broken and making it work again,” she said.

The new Metallica Scholar at first lacked the confidence that she had what it took to work in the male-dominated industrial maintenance field, she said. She since has found her strength, especially after being asked to participate in her employer’s maintenance helper program, where she can apply what she learns in the classroom immediately on the job.

“I’ve just been trying to get outside of myself and not to listen to that voice that tells me I can’t do it, or even those people who think I can’t do it because I’m a woman,” South said. “I’m trying to show my daughter what I can do so she’ll in turn see what she can do.”

South originally attended ECTC many years ago studying human resources, but once she worked in that field she determined it wasn’t the right fit. She came back to the college she knows and loves, to work toward a career that more aligned with her personality.

“I always wondered why and how something works the way it does,” she said. “I once went without a dryer for weeks because I couldn’t figure out how to change a cord. When I found out how easy it was, I thought, ‘I could do that.’”  

South credits ECTC with providing her with the encouragement to get as far as she has.

“I love the instructors here. They are compassionate, and I can tell they really want me to succeed. Everyone is rooting for me,” she said.

That includes industrial maintenance instructor Jerry Lawler.

“Misti was selected as a Metallica Scholar because she is dedicated to improving her life by attending school while working full time on midnight shift,” he said. “She is learning a trade and improving her position with her employer through the degree she will receive here at ECTC. Most days Misti only gets two or three hours of sleep before she must be up to come to class. Her hard work and dedication are paying off for her now as well as in the future.”

Becoming a Metallica Scholar has added to South’s confidence in herself.

“It has provided me with a sense of accomplishment and pride,” she said. “I’m not just proving myself to other people, but I’m proving myself to myself.”