Samuel Diggins LK ’25

“Take your time to do something the right way”

Locksmithing & Security Technology ’25
Age 26
Boston, Massachusetts

A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Samuel is an accomplished jazz and R&B vibraphone musician who can often be found performing at Wally’s Cafe Jazz Club and other locales in and around Boston. Hoping to supplement his music career, Samuel followed his interest in all things mechanical. With his locksmithing training from North Bennet, Samuel now has a valuable skill set he can bring anywhere his music gigs take him.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself—how old you are and where you’re from?

I’m 26 years old. I am originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and first came to Boston to go to Berklee College of Music.

What were you doing before NBSS, and what inspired the change?

I studied jazz and R&B vibraphone performance at Berklee, earning a professional diploma. I play at Wally’s Cafe Jazz Club in Boston quite a bit. Instead of doing a master’s program at Berklee, I decided to do something that could be a side hustle to help pay the rent when I move to New York or Philly to perform.

When/how did you discover your discipline/field?

I read the Theodore Gray book, How Things Work: The Inner Life of Everyday Machines, and there’s a little section on locks and locksmiths. I was always interested in mechanical things and how locks work, and I thought that would be an interesting way to make money. 

I also liked the idea of having that walking-down-the-street knowledge of things you pass all the time, like doors, which are everywhere.

Why did you choose to invest in training for a new career?

I wanted to apprentice in locksmithing while I was working my way through Berklee, but all the locksmithing jobs I applied to recommended getting certified first. They all recommended the Locksmithing & Security Technology program at North Bennet.

In what ways have you felt supported during your time at NBSS?

The scholarship I received helped so much with tuition. And, my instructor, Eddy Dacius LK ’13, Locksmithing & Security Technology Department Head, has been a big help in the job search process.

How do you feel at the end of a full day in the shop today compared to before NBSS?

With locksmithing, you feel like you’ve accomplished something when you’re done, whether you’ve repaired a lock or fixed something for a customer. It’s a similar feel to working stage crew, which I had done previously at Berklee. 

In contrast, playing jazz is a bit like stand-up comedy in that you’re on a tightrope and you’re in front of an audience every night, but it’s still a creative thing and you can play around. With locksmithing, you have to make sure things are fixed to certain specifications.

What’s next for you?

I’m hoping to find an institutional job, which will be especially helpful when I move to New York or Philly.

If you could sum up your NBSS experience in one word or phrase, what would it be—and why?

Immersive. The program covers all the different parts of the locksmithing industry, from types of keys and safe cracking to different installations, like Adams Rite, and access communications.

What’s your favorite thing you’ve made during your time at NBSS?

Carving out a mortise for a mortise lock. It’s fun when I’ve done it right, and all the lines are perfect and everything works well.

What’s one of your favorite places in or around Boston?

I like a lot of museums here, like the Museum of Science, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Institute of Contemporary Art. It’s fun to go there and get some inspiration. I also love going to Chelsea—you can find great Hispanic and Jewish foods. Katz Bagel Bakery has the best bagels.

What’s your favorite piece of advice you’ve received while at NBSS?

‘Take your time to do something the right way, and then speed it up from there.’ That’s how we do installations here. It’s actually similar to music, because a lot of times people just learn the language on their instrument, but you need to practice getting it in time, making it sound good.

What’s a favorite memory from your time at NBSS—something that’s stayed with you?

I enjoyed attending trade shows throughout the year. We went to one in Baltimore and got to take classes covering mechanical hardware, wiring, and more. The Yankee Security Convention was another fun trade show. We learned a lot of new skills there.

This story is from our Summer 2025 issue of Benchmarks magazine. View more issues.