By Tasbiha Fatima Hasan

Writer/Reporter

A common concern amongst university students is the gap between academic learning and job readiness. While this gap is real, another important question often goes unnoticed; do students fully know and use the resources already available to them?

Universities today offer more tools than ever before like career services, online learning platforms, certification access, and professional development programs. Yet, many of these resources remain underutilized, not because they lack value, but because students are not always aware of them or do not know how to integrate them into their academic journey.

Take platforms like LinkedIn Learning. Over the past couple of years, it has expanded significantly, now offering courses and certificate pathways in areas connected to environmental science, data analytics, GIS, and sustainability. These align closely with what many students are already studying, and yet a simple question remains; how many students know this or use it strategically?

Similarly, opportunities like Coursera Plus can be transformative. I came across a summer offer with a 50% discount – not through a structured program, but through self-discovery. That experience showed me how much value exists just beneath the surface, waiting to be found.

At the same time, there are promising initiatives already taking shape on campus. Programs like Metro Momentum (launched in Fall 2025) and the Peer Mentor Program (established in Fall 2024) represent meaningful steps toward building stronger student support systems. These initiatives create spaces for guidance, connection, and growth, especially for students navigating academic and career uncertainty.

But their impact depends on visibility and engagement.

Many students may have heard the names but are unsure of what exactly these programs offer, how they can help with career readiness, and how can students get involved?

This is where the opportunity lies not just in creating programs, but in amplifying them.

Imagine if these initiatives were more actively integrated into student life with short spotlight sessions during classes or events, peer-led conversations sharing real experience, a series of student interviews highlighting how these programs helped them, and open feedback channels to ask questions. These small steps could turn existing programs into widely recognized and actively used resources.

There is also an opportunity to extend this conversation through student media. A short interview series featuring peer mentors, program coordinators, and participating students could bring these initiatives to life. Hearing real stories often resonates more than reading program descriptions.

This article, then, is not just a reflection, it is also an invitation.

If you’ve interacted with Metro Momentum or the Peer Mentor Program:

• What was your experience like?
• What worked well?
• What could be improved?

And if you haven’t:

• What would make you interested in joining?
• What kind of support are you currently looking for?

The goal is not to critique what exists, but to strengthen it by increasing awareness, encouraging feedback, and building a culture where students actively engage with the resources designed for them. Because sometimes, the bridge between knowledge and opportunity is already being built. We just need to make sure more students know how to step onto it.

In future pieces, I hope to explore these programs more closely through student interviews and real experiences to better understand what’s working and what students still need.