Developing Leadership through Service

Article by Daisy Arvonen/Photo by Megan Mulliner

When you combine a passion for science and love of service, you get someone like Israel Aleman, who interned with the Simmons Center for Cancer Research for his Honors Leadership Development Experience (LDE).

Aleman is a senior studying Cell Biology and Physiology who started researching his first year at BYU. However, he didn’t feel particularly connected to the research topic at the time and decided to stop for six months. During that time, he focused his efforts on serving, working, and volunteering, but knew that eventually he wanted to get involved in research again.

“It felt like there was a phone that was still ringing and I wasn't answering it,” Aleman said. After praying for guidance, he felt that God started sending people and opportunities his way to get back into research.

Aleman met many people who were diagnosed with gastric cancer, and developed a desire to help in that specific area of research. He was able to meet the right professors at the right time who supported him in pursuing his endeavors. In January of 2023, he became an intern for the Simmons Center for Cancer Research and has been researching there ever since.

“It's almost like God was inspiring me and all the pieces fell into place,” Aleman said, “He's really been leading me along.”

Aleman used his internship as an opportunity to grow as a leader and centered his Honors leadership practicum around his research. Demonstrating leadership in a lab setting wasn’t easy, but Aleman grew from the experience and found satisfaction in uniting with other researchers under the same cause.

“This experience opened my eyes to the leadership needed in a laboratory setting. Little did I realize that good leadership is needed to steer a lab to success by not just the primary investigator, but the junior investigators in the lab, such as myself, to lead those around them in a progressive way forward. It’s the leaders who help others have positive research experiences,” he said.

“No matter how smart someone is or how dedicated,” Aleman explained, “if there's a team of people doing something, it's going to get done so much faster and it'll feel more purposeful.”

Although research often involves being alone in a lab, working on leadership skills helped Aleman to start focusing on the people he was researching with. Doing so pushed him out of his comfort zone and became a valuable learning experience for him.

“You have to get uncomfortable because all of a sudden you have to worry less about yourself and involve others,” Aleman said.

Aleman suggested that when his fellow Honors students can find meaning in their leadership experiences, it will help them be better leaders. He explained that as they understand and share their purpose in a team, there will be more unity and the work will be more meaningful.

During this time of discovery, Aleman decided that research as an MD-PhD is what he wants to dedicate his life to. He finds fulfillment in being able to take a problem to the lab and come back with a solution that can help change lives.

Aleman’s experiences taught him that the best way to find your passion is by getting involved. His advice to other Honors students is that they gain real life experience by branching outside of school to find ways to volunteer, work, and serve in the community.

“Once you actually get your feet wet, you'll learn that this is something that you want to commit to,” he said. “It'll keep drawing you back.” He explained how important it is for students to pursue something that comes from their heart.

With his heart focused on service, and his mind concentrated on academic excellence, Aleman is changing lives and becoming a leader in cancer research.