The Way College Should Be

Martha Hooper: Independence Built the Dream; Determination is Chasing It Down

Samantha Sorenson

Contributing Writer

As a homeschooled student who worked several jobs to put herself through college, Martha Hooper (‘26) is determination personified. That dedication paid off by earning her a debt-free bachelor’s degree and a clear path to her dream of becoming a Licensed Professional Counselor.

Her start to education was unconventional. Her father worked in public safety, so their family of four spent her childhood moving across states for his job.

“I’ve found that people often assume the decision to homeschool connects to a religious conviction,” Martha shared. “For my family, it was a practical reality. When we settled back in Spartanburg, I had the chance to attend a public high school, but when I looked at the flexibility I had with my homeschool schedule, I thought, ‘Why would I?’”

A diligent student, she was able to complete her courses early in the day, leaving her afternoons free for work at a local restaurant. Her job allowed her to start saving for college while also developing a work ethic and professional skills.

Affordable, Quality Education

Martha always figured graduate school was in her future, so saving money on her bachelor’s degree without sacrificing the quality of her education was important.

“I’d heard that Spartanburg Methodist College was affordable and had good programs, so it was a great option for my undergrad,” she said.

She continued to work through college, doing everything from cleaning houses to working in hospitality, and eventually landing a leadership role managing a restaurant. That effort, combined with scholarship assistance, allowed her to graduate from SMC with no debt and a blank slate for her future education.

Her independent, responsible nature was a massive benefit throughout her tenure at SMC as a commuter student.

“College wasn’t a big jump,” she said. “I was already used to working independently, and I found that I was able to develop a close community with other students balancing school, friendships, and jobs.”

She quickly realized that an affordable education didn’t mean compromised quality or care.

“Faculty from every department, including the Professional Development team, really took the time to listen to me,” she said with appreciation. “They helped me discover what I actually wanted to do.”

Finding The Major to Fit Her Dream

Her parents originally advocated for a utilitarian business degree, but after taking a Psych 101 class in her freshman year, Martha knew business wasn’t for her.

“The second week of classes, I changed my major to psychology,” she said with a laugh. “My original interest was in forensic psychology, but as I got into my higher-level courses and learned more about various techniques and theories, the more interested I became in counseling.”

Her professors championed her educational journey and were instrumental in helping her prepare for graduate school. From mock interviews to recommendation letters to candid conversations, Martha felt tangible support from every corner of SMC.

“I realized that all of my professors, even those outside my major, wanted to help,” she said. “They cared about how I was doing and made it clear that their doors were always open.”

She felt this support strongly while working on her Capstone, “From Home to Hallways,” which focused on aiding homeschoolers navigating the admissions process.

“My Capstone was tricky and involved a wide variety of stakeholders who were often hard to communicate with,” she shared. “My advisor, Dr. Tom LeGrand, worked with me on reframing my project in the context of the professional world. He helped me see that even when things don’t go exactly to plan, there’s still growth and development in the process.”

Dr. LeGrand echoed that sentiment. “She was an incredible student who encountered unexpected friction with her Capstone. We tell students to trust the process because there is more you are learning than just the academic effort,” he said. “Students don’t fully understand what they’ve learned from their project until after they reach the finish line. Martha learned to be resilient.”

Moving On to a Higher Degree

Martha is still growing, and her pursuit of higher education is far from over. After graduating from SMC this spring, she started her M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University this fall. The program will expose her to a wide variety of techniques and practical counseling applications, and she’s excited to discover more about her chosen field.

While her first step is her master’s, she has her eyes set on a doctorate. Her dream is to one day own her own private practice while lecturing and teaching part-time.

“I want to look into the window of why people do the things they do,” she explained. “I’m interested in individual care, and I want to support people and move forward with them.”

Her life experiences from homeschooling to working to her time at SMC have prepared her with the responsibility and independence she will need to pursue her goals. They’ve also impressed upon her the power of individualized support.

“SMC gave me opportunities and the support to work toward achieving my personal goals, as well as exploring what I wanted to do,” she said. “My choice to go into individualized counseling has been greatly impacted by my experiences so far, and I want to inspire others in a future counseling role.”

While her time at SMC may have ended, Martha knows her professors will always have their doors open to help. One professor is pretty certain she is well on her way.

“I think that her future beyond SMC will work out like she wants it to because she is just that determined, that driven, and just that diligent,” Dr. LeGrand said.