Alumni Profile
Point of Inspiration:
WMI instructor IS published Author By Jordan Evans, NOLS Alumni Intern
Whether it’s scheming up mass casualty scenarios for Wilderness EMT classes or inventing characters for his next work of fiction, NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI) instructor Tate Higgins puts his creativity to the test in endeavors around the globe. Higgins lives life to the fullest as an outdoor guide, outfitter, WMI instructor, and, as of this spring, published author. His short story “Souvenirs” was published in the Spring 2012 issue of American Short Fiction and is a testament to his artistic talents. The South Carolina native first became involved with NOLS on a 2007 WEMT course. Tate then volunteered on the Fort Collins ambulance service while finishing his master’s of fine arts in creative writing at Colorado State University and teaching college English courses. “I continued to think back on my WMI course really fondly. I thought someday I’d love to work for WMI,” said Higgins. “That month-long course bumped my life path pretty significantly from where I thought it was headed—in a really good way.” Higgins reconnected with WMI in 2009 and has since mixed instructing with his other adventures. In 2011, he “Being a teacher is such a great way to interact with other humans... I think that influences my writing, just that environment and being around other instructors that have these great stories.”
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taught for WMI in Texas, California, and India; led Kilimanjaro and safari trips in Tanzania; and guided six-day river trips on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. “I lived out of a suitcase, and for work I got to see some parts of the world I might not have ever gotten to. It opened a lot of doors and perspective,” he said.
Leader
Higgins pauses for some tea on an adventure through India and Africa. Courtesy of Tate Higgins
And he wrote. Through his escapades around the globe, Higgins continually finds inspiration for his writing, a passion he pursues no matter where he is or what adventure he’s on. Higgins is strongly influenced by the people he encounters in his travels. “I’m most interested in how people interact—hurt, lie, take care of each other—how characters do that. My stories tend to revolve around relationships and interactions,” he said. “Souvenirs” is replete with interesting character interactions, augmented by the presence of alligators. In this short story, a routine day at the alligator park takes a turn for the peculiar when a mysterious, one-handed woman catches the park attendant’s attention by shoplifting from the gift shop. “There’s a lot of suspense in alligators—they’re all smooth and calm until they’re not. These characters are having their human issues, and then one step away there’s these alligators hanging out. In my head it’s this cool place to explore,” said Higgins. He has the opportunity to examine
interesting environments and human behaviors such as this thanks to his background in EMS, guiding, and teaching in “the coolest classroom.” “Being a teacher is such a great way to interact with other humans and to see students progress and see students struggle. I think that influences my writing, just that environment and being around other instructors that have these great stories,” Higgins reflected. The connection between his WMI career and writing career may be further explored, Higgins hinted, in future works that expand on “Souvenirs.” Future stories’ plots may thicken with a “crazy” alligator attack. “Teaching wilderness medicine, I’ve seen pictures or descriptions of every injury imaginable. It’s hard for that not to come in there somewhere,” Higgins said before shifting from hints to predictions. “Somebody is going to get attacked by an alligator.” Check out the Three Penny Review later this year to find Tate’s second publication and what scenario he comes up with next.