Equity Research SA — What Next?

I went to a community college for two years and transferred to a top 5 school. I pay for my own school and was fortunate enough to get an offer at a top BB doing equity research for my junior year (class of 2021). I'm curious as to how to plan for what's next. I don't particularly want to stay in sell-side research permanently. The school that I go to has a decent amount of hedge funds that directly recruit out of undergrad and I was wondering how I should approach FT recruiting at a buyside shop or lateraling to M&A. Is there anyone who did their SA stint in something other than banking (capital markets, S&T, ER) and lateraled to another bank doing IB or went straight to buyside? If so, what are the steps that you took? On a side note, I really appreciate all the advice and information on this site — I wouldn't have been where I am now if I didn't stumble on this site freshman year.