Experience, reflection and relationships

What inspires you? Is it the work itself, the paycheck or the chance to make a difference? For many, it’s a combination of all three. We set out with a degree plan and a vision for the future.

For Madeleine Pike, a graduate student in public health in the College of Veterinary Medicine, and Roberto Maldonado Flores, an undergraduate studying human health biology, those plans were clear. But a week in Dallas with the Kansas State University Alternative Break program taught them that some of the most important lessons aren’t found in a textbook — they’re learned through experience, reflection and relationships.

Alternative Breaks are hosted by the Staley School of Leadership and give K-State students a chance to learn through service—connecting with communities while developing leadership, empathy and purpose. Pike and Maldonado Flores traveled with five other students to serve with AIDS Services of Dallas, or ASD, which provides housing, medical referrals, counseling and life skills training to individuals and families living with, impacted by or at risk for HIV/AIDS.

During their time at ASD, the students built a pergola donated by Microsoft, restored a playground and spread mulch under the guidance of groundskeepers Tony and Michael.

The work was hands-on, practical and deeply human.

From theory to reality

For Maldonado Flores, the trip helped him reconnect with his purpose.

“As someone pursuing a career in health care, I’ve always believed that patients are more than their symptoms or diagnoses,” he said. “But in the rush of clinical work, it’s easy to lose sight of that.”

Working with ASD reminded him that the people they served were whole individuals — parents, siblings and neighbors — with lives that extend far beyond a diagnosis.

“I don’t just want to treat illness,” he said. “I want to help people get back to the parts of life that matter most to them. I want to be the kind of provider who sees the full person.”

For Pike, the experience connected her academic training in public health to her personal history. Having grown up in circumstances similar to those faced by some families at ASD, she understood the challenges firsthand. Now, as a graduate student, she could see the broader systems at work.

She learned from ASD staff what it truly takes to run a nonprofit: the logistics, advocacy and thoughtful decision-making behind the scenes. The weeklong service project became a living example of the kind of policy and public health work she hopes to pursue.

“This trip reconnected me with the purpose behind why I chose this field,” Pike said. “Service is no longer separate from my career goals — it’s part of them. And leadership isn’t just about organizing people. It’s about listening, adapting and creating space for others to thrive.”

A deeper meaning of service

The experience challenged them physically and mentally. The Texas heat was draining, and the workdays were long. There were moments of uncertainty and fatigue. But small moments made a lasting impact.

On the final night, a mother thanked the students for improving the playground.

“One mother mentioned how tired she was of the kids tracking sand into the house and how relieved she was that the mulch had changed that,” Maldonado Flores said. “That moment alone made the entire trip worth it.”

For Pike, the week reshaped her understanding of leadership. As someone who prefers having a plan, she was challenged to co-lead six students in a new environment. Yet the team’s energy carried them forward.

“Every single person showed up with optimism, even when the sun was beaming or we weren’t totally sure what we were doing,” she said. “We laughed through printed instructions flying away and backward drill bits, and somehow it all came together.”

At one point, when she sensed the group was tired, she reminded them of their purpose.

“I said, ‘Remember that this is not for you. It’s for something bigger than you. You only get out of it what you put into it.’ I wasn’t trying to give a speech — I just said what I needed to hear.”

In that moment, she saw a shift — not only in her team, but in herself. Leadership, she realized, is about showing up honestly and reconnecting people to their “why.”

Commitment to purpose

More than a volunteer opportunity, the Alternative Break reaffirmed the two students' academic and career paths.

For Maldonado Flores, the experience brought him back to “the human side of care — the reason I wanted to be in this field to begin with.”

“I want to keep showing up fully for people I serve, with empathy and intention,” he said.

For Pike, the realization came in a quiet moment when she looked around and saw every student engaged and working, laughing and problem-solving together.

“It was about more than building a pergola or spreading mulch,” she said. “It was about building connections.”

Both students expressed gratitude to the ASD team for welcoming them and trusting them as representatives of K-State.

Service, to the pair, now means relationships, shared responsibility and mutual respect. Service is about learning alongside a community.

Ultimately, the experience captured the heart of community-engaged learning: leadership and learning unfolding side by side, grounded in purpose, connection and growth.

The Staley School of Leadership looks forward to exploring how applied learning experiences, such as Alternative Breaks, can be integrated into K-State coursework. Faculty and instructors interested in connecting classroom learning with community-engaged experiences are invited to reach out to learn more. These immersive service opportunities offer students a powerful way to apply course concepts in real-world settings while building deeper connections with communities beyond campus.

To learn more about upcoming Alternative Break opportunities, visit the Staley School website.

If you are interested in partnering with community partners for a community-engaged learning experience, contact Del’Sha Roberts at delrob15@k-state.edu or Drew Pearl at apearl@k-state.edu.