What happens when you reconnect with a student two years after graduation?

In this episode of the Disrupt Education Podcast Student Series, Peter Hostrawser and Alli Dahl welcome back Samanta Kavaliauskaite, who first joined the podcast while she was still in high school. Now a college student, marketing manager, and business builder, Samanta returns with a fresh perspective on education, career readiness, networking, entrepreneurship, and what she's learned through real world experience.

Samanta shares why attending community college became one of the best decisions she has made, how managing marketing for a growing chiropractic practice accelerated her professional growth, and why helping launch a small business taught her lessons that no classroom could replicate. She also explains how networking, communication, curiosity, and simply getting started have opened doors she never expected.

Together, Peter, Alli, and Samanta challenge the traditional belief that students need to have their entire future mapped out before graduation. Instead, they explore why understanding yourself, gaining experience, building relationships, and staying open to new opportunities create far more meaningful career pathways.

Whether you're a student trying to figure out your next step, a parent supporting your child's future, or an educator looking to better prepare young people for life after high school, this conversation is filled with practical insights and honest advice that will change the way you think about education and career exploration.

This Student Series is proudly sponsored by pega6.

The workplace is changing, and students need more than classroom knowledge to succeed. They need real world skills and experiences, just like Landon demonstrated in today's episode.That's why pega6 is building the nation's first white collar trade school, helping students launch meaningful careers through hands on, career focused learning. Graduates enter the workforce job ready, gain valuable experience sooner, and can get a head start both professionally and financially.Whether you're a student looking for a different path or an employer searching for exceptional emerging talent, visit ⁠pega6.com⁠ and discover what's possible when education is built around experience.

The Disrupt Education Podcast is powered by YouScience Brightpath.

YouScience Brightpath, the next generation platform helping students make personalized decisions as they move from education to career. If you are serious about connecting students to real opportunities, head to ⁠youscience.com/disrupteducation-podcast⁠. Request a demo and let them know you heard about YouScience right here.