Samantha Hodges

“My advice to students who are unsure about joining the Metro College program, do it! It will definitely be hard at the beginning of the journey, but once you get a good schedule down it will become easier,” said Samantha Hodges, a sophomore and criminal justice major at the University of Louisville.

Samantha is from Crestwood, Kentucky and joined the Metropolitan College program in Fall 2020. Like many other Metropolitan College participants, Samantha wanted to earn a college degree debt free and take advantage of the other program benefits. “Honestly, the Metro College program is such a wonderful gig you can't pass it up. They pay your tuition, and you get a weekly paycheck! Also, the atmosphere at UPS is fun when you get to know your coworkers.”

This spring, Samantha received a nomination for the 2021 Outstanding Metropolitan College Student Award, an award that recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding leadership, work-life balance, and academic success.

Right now, Samantha works as a package handler with ambitions to promote to a supervisor role in the future at UPS.

After graduation, Samantha’s long-term career goal is to attend law school to become a criminal defense lawyer and eventually open a law firm.

Learn more about Samantha Hodges in this Metropolitan College Spotlight Q&A Interview

Why did you decide to participate in the MC program?
I decided to participate in the Metro College program because the idea of working and paying for school at the same time was the best fit for me. The Metro College program has allowed me to go through college without worrying about my financial needs and the academic bonuses you receive at the end of the semester are truly amazing!

What has been your biggest challenge as a MC participant and how did you overcome this challenge?
One of the biggest challenges as an MC participant is working third shift. It changes your entire day to day life coming from a high school student. I plan out each part of my day from when I go to sleep, wake up, eat and homework. Honestly, as a MC student you live the same life Monday-Friday and on the weekends, you rest up and go out!

What person(s) has been the biggest influence in your life and why?
My mother, father and brother have been my biggest influence in life because they support everything that I have the desire to accomplish. My parents have raised me to become a strong, independent woman who never quits. My brother worked at UPS when he attended college, and now he works as a traveling nurse and has become very successful.

What is an interesting or fun fact about yourself?
An interesting fact about myself is that I love to cook and watch Netflix!

We are proud of our current students and alumni and their incredible accomplishments! The MC Spotlight is a way for us to highlight the amazing things our current students and alumni are doing. As you read their stories, you will learn how their Metropolitan College experiences helped to shape their futures and influence their careers.

We are always on the lookout for inspiring MC Spotlight stories. If you or someone you know is interested in sharing a story with us, contact us at askmetro@kctcs.edu.

Note: At Metropolitan College, we consider our alumni anyone who has ever completed coursework and received tuition benefits with us.