BALTIMORE - Jaden Cleland (Cedarville), Grace Savage (Ursuline) and Leah Leshnack (Ursuline) represented the Great Midwest Athletic Conference at the 2016 NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum last week.
The trio of G-MAC student-athletes were joined by G-MAC Assistant Commissioner for Internal Operations Jon Teetzel for the rigorous four-day event designed to enhance leadership skills in a group setting from all divisions.
Below are a few thoughts composed by Cleland (baseball), Savage (women's lacrosse) and Leshnack (softball), about what they were able to take away from the experience.
The NCAA Student-Athlete Leadership Forum engages a diverse and dynamic representation of student-athletes, coaches, faculty and administrators. Student-athletes selected to attend Leadership Forum return to campus with invaluable leadership skills, the experience of exploring the relationship between personal values, core beliefs and behavioral styles, and a thorough understanding of the NCAA as a whole, the different divisional perspectives and the valuable role of Student-Athlete Advisory Committees (SAAC).
The Leadership Forum, created in 1997, has been a life-changing experience for nearly 5,000 student-athletes, many who have grown personally and professionally, gained a new network of peers and friends, as well as felt the rewards and importance of community service.
Jaden Cleland - Cedarville - Senior - Catcher - Springfield, OH
I cannot understate my appreciation to both Cedarville University and the conference for allowing me to participate in such an extraordinary event. In addition, I must express appreciation to the NCAA for hosting the event, and for the various amenities they provided for us for the duration of our stay. The forum consisted of a variety of keynote speakers, color group events, service projects, forums on NCAA governance and compliance, and even a murder mystery dinner. Keynote speakers included Ryan Gilliam, self-made millionaire and author who played football at USF, and Samantha Peszek, a silver medal Olympic gymnast. Both of these brilliant and qualified individuals spoke on behalf of their experiences; including motivation, constancy of character, and perseverance. The opportunity to listen to their keen insight is something that is difficult to express, but without a doubt one of the most memorable moments of the forum. Being in a room with 30 of the best millennial leaders in the country can be an unnerving experience, but finding out that these kids were just like me was a breath of fresh air. Hearing the struggles, misfortunes, and insecurities of the best of the best just goes to show that even the best of us are not without need of help. We were all able to realize that none of us had all the answers and that at times the best leadership comes in the form of following someone else for a change. My experience at the NCAA forum altered my perspective on student leadership, and will stick with me for the remainder of my life.
Grace Savage - Ursuline - Senior - Defender - Plymouth, MI
I had such a fantastic time while I was there. I think the biggest thing that I learned over the forum was that there are so many different types of leaders. Everyone has their own leadership style and that works the best for them. I was able to discover how I like to lead others. I think one of the biggest things was you have to be a 24 hour learner. You can't just lead on the field and expect someone to follow you. You have to lead on and off the field in all aspects of life. We also talked about our core values and found which ones that we valued the most. We learned about our strengths and how that can contribute to how you lead. I think my favorite thing about the experience was meeting so many people from around the country and hearing their thoughts and experiences on leadership. The experience was fantastic and it was extremely special and truly a once in a lifetime experience.
Leah Leshnack - Ursuline - Junior - Infielder - Liberty, OH
Just wanted to let everyone know that the leadership forum was the experience of a lifetime. I learned more about myself, my leadership philosophy, and my mental toughness than I ever imagined possible in three days. As I am aware that there were many captains and campus leaders at the event, I realized that the NCAA staff was not only helping us become better leaders for our teams and schools, but all around better people so that we could positively impact our own lives and the lives of others long after collegiate athletics. I met student-athletes, coaches, and administrators from all over the country and I am beyond thankful for the experience. I can only hope that they learned as much from me as I did from them. I am so excited to share all of the valuable information and insight that I gathered with my team so that we can build onto the foundation and culture that we have been working on these past few years.
The most important advice that I received was from our guest speaker, former Olympian and NCAA National Champion, Samantha Peszek, and that is to be a 24-hour leader. Off the field, when you think no one is watching, and when you're by yourself, always be a leader.