Deacon Sports Xtra: Anna Bush Represents Wake Forest at Women Leaders in Sports National Convention

12/22/2023 8:00:00 AM | Track and Field

“Being a collegiate athlete takes up a lot of your time, and people don’t always get to explore the options and passions they have. I’m happy to be here, in a place that allows you to explore your interests outside of athletics.” - Anna Bush

By: Les Johns

Anna Bush has earned All-America and All-ACC honors, claimed an ACC Championship in the Pentathlon and etched her name in the Wake Forest track and field record books.

As she began her final season in the Old Gold & Black this fall, she had another opportunity to expand her remarkable and diverse Wake Forest experience as part of a group of 15 ACC student-athletes selected to attend 2023 Women Leaders in Sports National Convention, Oct. 8-10, in New Orleans.

"It was a great honor," Bush said. "I was around so many amazing women and leaders from across the country. It was something really special to me and I loved it. It was a great opportunity and taught me a lot. It was so much more than I expected. I was able to connect, network and learn a lot about leadership."

The Bayou experience lived up to the hype for the Australian native.

"I hadn't been there before," Bush said. "It was cool to see another city. A couple of the other girls from the ACC got together after hours and explored the city. It's different from anything I've seen before. It was a Monday night, and it was still really busy with people everywhere."

The ACC held a workshop on goal planning and networking practice with the attendees from the conference.

"We are thrilled to be able to provide this incredible experience for our student-athletes during the annual Women Leaders in Sports National Convention," ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips, Ph.D. said in a release. "The opportunity to connect our student-athletes with the leadership not only at our institutions but across the country is invaluable."

There were about 1,300 total in attendance, composed of coaches, administrators, compliance officers and student-athletes from across the country. The event was organized by Women Leaders in Sports, whose mission is to develop, connect, advance and champion women leaders working in sports.

"It was great to connect with fellow student-athletes but also people in leadership roles in collegiate athletics," Bush said. "There were a lot of people from the NCAA office as well. It was a great experience and I brought a lot back with me."

After spending a few weeks back in Australia with her family, Bush returned to Wake Forest eager to make a big mark in her final season.

"I ended up going home in June for five weeks," Bush said. "I finished my master's in education online from Australia, hung out with family and relaxed a bit. Got back in mid-July and started my master's in business, which I'm really loving so far. Now I'm gearing up for the season and building off a solid base."

She's now working her way through the 10-month Masters in Management program.

"I'm really enjoying it so far," Bush said. "It has its challenges with juggling lifting and training schedules — physical therapy, rehab and treatment. It seems like there aren't enough hours in the day. It's testing my time management skills, but once I get the hang of it, I believe it will go smoothly."

"I'm someone that loves to be busy, and I thrive when I have a lot on my plate. I like being challenged. When I'm not involved in intense training, there are times I can be less motivated from an academic perspective as well. I'll put things off. When I have both athletics and academics ramping up, it means I'm a lot more diligent with my time management. It's easier to get things done and stay motivated."

After dealing with an Achilles injury at the end of last year and a concussion as the season came to an end, Bush is thrilled to be back to 100 percent for the 2023-24 schedule.

"I was able to come back for indoors on a successful note, but right before the ACC Championships I hit my head and got a bad concussion," she said. "That was rough. I didn't take care of myself well and suffered with symptoms for four-to-five weeks after the incident. That affected my training. Not being out there with my teammates was extremely taxing mentally. That was one of the biggest hurdles I've had during my time at Wake Forest.

"But I was able to come back and end the season on a positive note. It wasn't the season I wanted, but I'm proud I didn't throw in the towel. I fought until the end and was able to put some points on the board for the team. I'm excited to see what this season brings. I can't wait to hit the indoor season full-steam ahead and score some points for the team."

While reflecting at the opportunities she's had both on and off the field of competition, Bush is just incredibly thankful for her time at Wake Forest.

"I just love Wake Forest and all of the opportunities that have come my way during my time here," she said. "Last year, I conducted some research in the elementary school system with English language learners. That's something I'm passionate about. The education and athletic department was flexible in allowing me to do that."

"Being a collegiate athlete takes up a lot of your time, and people don't always get to explore the options and passions they have. I'm happy to be here, in a place that allows you to explore your interests outside of athletics."