CHICOPEE, Mass. - Argenis Davila was 10 years old when he first picked up a pair of clippers and decided on his career.

“I decided to be barber because I feel passion for making designs in the hair,” said Top Legends Barbershop owner, Davila. “For make people looks good.”

Raised by an adopted family in Puerto Rico, Davila came to Chicopee to reconnect with his biological mother and move to an area where he’d have better opportunities to succeed as a professional barber.

When he was younger, Davila was told he would never make it cutting hair, but on his trips from Puerto Rico to see his mom, Davila would work some hours at a local barbershop managed by a family friend.

It eventually led to a more permanent position.

Davila said his friend reached out and asked him if he wanted a chair at the barbershop. His friend even paid for his flight to come to the U.S.

“I said, ‘Let’s do this,’” Davila said.

​Davila was finally employed full time, but adjusting to life in Massachusetts by himself wasn’t easy. He didn’t always have a good place to live and sometimes had to walk up to an hour to work because of financial challenges.

Davila said the loneliness and stress turned to years of drug addiction and trips to the county jail.

“I lost the focus, so once that I tried the pills,” Davila said. “My life goes down, and it’s hard. Goes to jail, come back for the same.”

The turning point eventually came.

Davila is now 29 years old and clean and is cutting hair at his brand new business, Top Legends Barbershop.

“I know, I know the difficult is the life, and that is why I want to help people,” said Davila. “You know, because, I don’t want what your path to be my path. I’m already a path for you.”

Davila said he wants his story and his barbershop to be a source of help and inspiration to others. He plans to be a contributing part of this community for years to come.

Top Legends is located at 176 Center St. in Chicopee.