Experience Matters: Student stories of leadership development and community change, is a blog series that highlights student learning through the experiential service and leadership programs at Kansas State University’s Staley School of Leadership Studies. Program alumni will share stories of leadership development, building civic capacity, and leading change.
In our first blog of the series, Gracyn Higley, a 2021 K-State graduate, describes her experience with Alternative Breaks. Through her participation in service learning programs she gained awareness of social issues and built her capacity to exercise leadership around the complex challenges facing communities.
April of my senior year in high school I had no idea where I was going to college. I had one month to make a decision so at least I had something for my “plans” to be announced as I crossed the stage at graduation. After talking with and old friend at K-State, I decided to spend the next four years growing in my leadership capacity, building new friendships, and developing a passion for service.
I faced a lot of trials and transition during my first year at K-State, but kept pushing myself to gain new experiences. This push was largely due to taking the LEAD 212: Introduction to leadership concepts. The class was exactly the nudge I needed to confidently try new things, including International Service Teams (IST), a program of the Staley School of Leadership Studies. I spent the summer with The Sandele Foundation in The Gambia. Upon my return to the U.S., I found that my views about many things had changed. A huge question I reflected on was, why serve and learn abroad rather than where you’re from? This question stuck with me and made me realize the importance of looking at service locally, in addition to globally.
In March of 2020, I continued learning about social issues as a student coordinator on an Alternative Break in Springfield, Missouri. I chose this location because it incorporated my agriculture major. The focus of the trip was on gaining a holistic understanding of how sustainability encompasses elements of energy usage, food production, and conservation. We learned about these challenges through service with four different partners.
Our first stop was a tour of a solar-powered home. After the tour we had some amazing discussions at the home-owners’ dinner table about process of creating a sustainably-powered home. We talked about efficient appliances, phantom energy, foam insulation, heating and cooling, solar, and their 3,000 gallon rain-water collection system. Even though we only visited one family’s home, the experience opened my eyes to how the action of a few people can make a broader impact towards sustainability.
Next, we visited the James River Basin Partnership. We cleaned up a stream located near a littered roadway. While cleaning up we talked with the project manager about the mission of James River Basin, which is to improve and protect the water quality of springs, streams, rivers, and lakes in the area’s watershed – another example of how smaller systems impact the greater whole. And finally, we did more hands on work with the Watershed Center by planting trees, and touring the city of Springfield’s utility solar farm. Visiting many diverse organizations helped me to see the complex nature of making progress in our communities.
Our student team, each of us with different majors and backgrounds, grew our leadership skills by learning from each other. We gained a more holistic understanding of how sustainability efforts impact our world. Following the service trip, my team reflected on the impacts of our experiences and talked about how and why exercising leadership is important to each of us. I now see service-learning opportunities as something that can be put into action anywhere you find yourself, and it’s important that you approach it with an inclusive mindset.
I graduated in May 2021 passionate about community change. I’ve decided to put my leadership education into practice by taking on a position in my hometown as a junior high school girls’ basketball coach and as an assistant manager at the local youth center, where I am building relationships and passing on the lessons from the Staley School.
My experience has also helped me grow a heart for service around many social issues. I have a better understanding of our world and systems thinking. These programs have set me up for success in my career in farming and ranching as have a clear picture of global food systems. I can ask the tough questions and push traditional practices of agriculture in order to feed our world. I can better interact with the people I work with by playing to their strengths and knowing that there is power in diversity. I also understand the importance of investing my time into others as it helps develop their leadership capacities. If I can focus on my small part of the world, I can make a change by mobilizing others. This inherently creates a better population of leaders in our diverse and changing world.
Alternative Breaks is currently recruiting for 2022 spring break participants. If you are interested in learning more about social issues through service, contact our Alternative Breaks team at altbreak@ksu.edu.
About the author
Gracyn Higley now works at Higley Farms in Atwood, Kansas. She also serves at 5ten Main Youth Center as the Assistant Director, and as the Rawlins County Junior High Head Girls Basketball Coach. Gracie graduated from K-State with a bachelor’s degree in animal science and a minor in leadership studies.
