Bucknell University Athletics
Mike Lansing Checks in from the USNA Leadership Conference
1/27/2013 7:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Jan. 27, 2013
Three Bison student-athletes traveled to Annapolis, Md., Sunday for the United States Naval Academy Leadership Conference, which runs through Wednesday. All-Patriot League fullback Travis Friend of the football team, Jennifer Fish of women's rowing, and men's soccer goalkeeper Mike Lansing have joined assistant men's soccer coach Pat Long at the conference.
Each student-athlete will be checking in throughout the week, and first up we hear from Lansing after Day 1:
We started our journey with a long three-hour ride through the countryside to the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy. After unpacking and settling in, we went to the dining area in the hotel for the opening remarks and to meet others who have come from across the country to attend the conference.
The first person who introduced himself to us was a man named JD Messinger. Turns out he was an award-winning author with a Best Selling book titled "11 Days in May." He was a very intriguing man, full of conversation, and he will be one of the speakers during the conference.
After settling down in the dining hall and some ice breakers, I had the opportunity to talk with a man named Will, who had been on three or four tours overseas. The stories he told about living on a ship for months at a time were interesting and eye- opening.
Following the reception, all of the Patriot League student-athletes who were chosen for the conference met up in a small room off of the main floor. We took some time to sit down with each other and discuss what leadership really means to us and our schools. We talked about what makes a great leader, how leaders are viewed differently in each school, and what leaders have to deal with on their respective teams. This gives me something to think about through the week and hopefully find answers to.
I'm looking forward to the next few days of meeting extremely inspirational people and soaking in such a great opportunity. By the end I hope to learn a lot and hopefully be able to incorporate things I learn onto the soccer field.
-- Mike Lansing '16
