Career Launch is a virtual career development program at the University at Buffalo designed to help students clarify their goals, recognize and articulate their skills, and take intentional steps toward their future. Through guided instruction, reflection, and interactive activities, students learn how to connect their interests, experiences, and academic paths to real career possibilities. Career Launch provides structure, support, and practical tools to help students move forward with confidence! Students who complete the program receive a certificate of completion and a Linked-in badge that can be added to your resume!
To better understand the impact of Career Launch, we sat down with Sristhi Bhatia to hear her firsthand experience with the program. In the following interview, Sristhi shares her perspective on how Career Launch supported her growth, confidence, and career direction.
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Tell us a little about yourself – your major, year, and career interests.- My name is Sristhi Bhatia, and I am a second-year graduate student at the University at Buffalo pursuing a master’s in Higher Education and Student Affairs. I’m passionate about student affairs, especially helping students explore their interests, build leadership skills, and prepare for future careers.
What motivated you to join the Career Launch program?
As someone who enjoys exploring professional development opportunities, I wanted to gain hands-on experience with one of our student-facing programs. I was curious to see how it could support my own career development as I prepare to transition into a full-time role after completing my master’s degree this upcoming academic year.As a first-generation student, I know how valuable it is to have structured guidance and intentional resources, so I wanted to take advantage of Career Launch as a way to strengthen my foundation while also learning how students experience it.
What were your expectations going into the program?
I expected to learn practical strategies for setting clear career goals and to gain tools for mapping out the next steps after graduate school. I also saw it as an opportunity to grow both as a participant and as a professional learning how these programs are designed and facilitated.
What was your favorite part of Career Launch?
My favorite part was engaging with both master’s students and undergraduates. Seeing people from different fields and interests allowed me to connect with peers outside my immediate work and academic area, which broadened my perspective.
What is one skill or lesson you learned that will stick with you?
The biggest lesson was learning how to break down big goals into smaller, more manageable steps. I tend to quickly think about the “end result” of a career, but Career Launch helped me realize the value of setting milestones and celebrating progress along the way as well as having structure in the journey to help me learn from mistakes and launch ahead- pun intended.
Was there a session or activity that stood out as especially meaningful?
What really helped with that facilitation was the introductory one-on-one session with Theresa as an instructor . The conversation felt personal and intentional, and I appreciated having the space to talk through my vision and goals with someone who really listened. The booklet was also a helpful resource to organize my thoughts and put them into action steps. The quick survey and reflection activities stood out the most because they pushed me to think honestly about where I am now versus where I want to be. Writing things down made my goals feel more concrete, and I left with a clearer sense of direction.
How did connecting with other students shape your experience?
It was encouraging to know that other students are navigating similar questions about their future. Hearing their perspectives reminded me that career exploration is a shared journey, and it made me feel more motivated and less alone in the process.
What career goals are you most excited about pursuing now?
I’m excited about continuing to build my path in student affairs, particularly in roles that let me work directly on student engagement and success while also incorporating my interests in policy and technology. I want to design programs that give future students the same kind of clarity and support like the Career Launch gave me.
What advice would you share with another student thinking about joining Career Launch?
I’d encourage them to go in with an open mind and use the program as a chance to pause, reflect, and focus on themselves. It’s a great opportunity to clarify your vision and walk away with practical steps you can start working on right away. The resources are foundational, and I’ve noticed they can be applied at different levels of career exploration whenever you’re ready to take the next step.
Want to Connect with Sristhi?
You can find Sristhi on both our Connect-a-Bull platform and Linked-in!
Interested in joining Career Launch?
If you’re a UB student interested in joining, sign up today using our Career Launch Interest Form! Join the interest list to receive updates about our next upcoming cohort! You can also email Theresa Gerard (tcgerard@buffalo.edu) for any questions.
