Abigail Slack, Guest – The Eleven Steps to Archery Success apply to more than just archery.
Stance, with most things in life, building a solid foundation is essential for growth and expanding knowledge and opportunities. Beginning archery as early as third grade and participating for 10 years, this year I have built the foundation that has allowed me to make new friends and learn things about myself and about my team. Along with archery I have challenged myself in school by taking part in the CCP studies dual enrollment program where I have taken almost 24 college credits that will transfer over to the college or university of my choosing. Even with the rigorous workload of my college classes combined with my other classes I have been able to maintain a GPA of 3.5 or higher, my current GPA being a 3.67. I also have taken the ACT and have a composite score of 25. In taking advanced and college level classes, I have gotten a glimpse of what classes might look like in college and created a foundational knowledge of my future in higher education. My stance in life is that you can accomplish anything through dedication and hard work.
The second step to archery success is “nock,” the first step in giving your arrow direction. When I nock my arrow to my bow and I hear the subtle click, I think about what comes next. What comes next in life? What comes next is the future, my future. I have always been interested in helping people and up until recently I planned to become a Child Psychologist working with children and families to overcome their traumatic experiences. My plan and perspective changed when I became a teacher’s assistant for a Multiple Disabilities classroom at Maysville Elementary. As a teacher’s assistant, each day I looked forward to walking into the classroom to see the kids’ smiles and watch their faces light up through every success no matter how small. Something just clicked I discovered my newfound passion for working with children with disabilities, becoming a special education teacher is now a significant part of my long-term professional goals. In the fall, I hope to pursue child psychology and Elementary Special Education. Though both are tough career paths at times, I am up for the challenge. Even when life “nocks” you down if you keep eyes fixed in the right direction, you will reach your target and find what you are looking for.
Following “nock” are two steps that go hand in hand, set draw hand and set bow hand. Set draw hand allows me to place my fingers in the right position on the string to guide the arrow, set bow hand enables me to stabilize my bow. The ability to hold something steady is special and is often the job of a leader. As one of two seniors on our archery team, I feel as though I am to lead by example and help those who need it not just on the high school team but the middle and elementary as well. I enjoy talking to the younger archers because I want them to have an amazing experience and continue archery as they grow up. Though that was not a titled leadership position, it is just as important. Another sport that I have been a part of all throughout High School is girls’ varsity Soccer. This past season I was chosen to be one of three team captains where I was expected to be a leader on and off the field through my grades, actions, attitude, and drive. I was the mediator of arguments, the comedic relief in times of stress, and the respectful stern voice when it was needed. Even in this position I would always look to my coaches for guidance and constructive criticism. A leader is a steady hand to guide you through the challenges you face just like my hands stabilize my string and my bow.
After that comes pre draw, then draw. This is where the arrow gains its power and momentum. I am a part of many volunteer-oriented clubs and have had the chance to interact with my school and community to be a catalyst for positive change. I am a member of Interact club, Key club, and National Honor Society, all of which I have participated in since sophomore year. With each club I have had numerous opportunities the serve at Christ Table, the local soup kitchen, work with Helping Hands, and Coordinate events for the kids at the elementary school like trick or treating and field days. Being an active part of my community is especially important to me because I can show people that I care and want to see a difference in the world around me no matter the scale. Sometimes actions speak louder than words and I hope that people see the difference I can make and are willing to do the same, displaying the power and momentum of simple acts of community service.
This step in archery success has always been the one I struggle with the most: anchor. Every step following is dependent on this very action. Throughout my participation in archery, I have experienced trouble with anchoring my hand at the same place every time, taking my time, slowing down. I often get ahead of myself, and I start to rush. I get frustrated with myself because of how long I have worked to slow down but it just does not seem to stick with me. And through all of it, my coaches have always given me constructive criticism that I attempt to listen to. My coaches have taught me that patience and perseverance go hand in hand. It is important to be patient with myself and others while still trying to work through the issue. I guess you could say my coaches are my “anchor” reining me in when I rush ahead.
The following two steps also go hand in hand. The eighth step is aim. My aim has changed every year I have participated in archery. I have grown taller and stronger, variables that change, forcing me to adapt. The ninth is shot setup, this is where everything comes together. It is your final check before you release the arrow, making sure everything is in its place and feels right. As I aim, I often fail to give myself enough time to complete both steps to the best of my ability. However, when I do its smooth sailing for me and the arrow. I often think of my aim as the things I want to accomplish. For example, I plan to continue taking part in community service and any opportunity I have to work with kids, in preparation for my future career in psychology and/or special education. Shot set up is comparable to the many decisions I have had to make so far; I have analyzed them to this point to determine if they are right for me though one of the toughest decisions is yet to be made. Where am I going to college? To answer that question, I do not know for sure. But what I do know is college is expensive and scholarships are my best option for financial support. With the aid of scholarships, I would aim to attend the college of my choice, adapt to what comes my way, and ensure that my decisions are what is best for me to set me up for life.
The final two steps are release and reflection. This step is often overlooked by me and many other archers. This is the point in time where you let go of your string and figure out what can be done to improve. When I first started archery, and occasionally now, a stray arrow could cause me to get in my head, but release does not just apply to the physical action of letting go of the string. As my dad will often sing when an arrow goes astray “I’ll fly away oh glory I’ll fly away,” in his terms and in mine that means it is okay, figure out what you did and fix it. I am always searching for ways to better myself and those around me and being involved in many extracurriculars for some time, archery for 10 years, dance for almost 11 years, band for 8 years, and youth group for 6, my commitment to each is based on my enjoyment and the opportunities they provide for me to advance in skill and understanding. Sometimes, I do get caught in a mindless routine, but archery has taught me to reflect on my decisions and let go of things that are not important in the present. It has also taught me that not everyone deals with a “bad arrow” the same way and that it is important to know one bad arrow is not the end of the world.
All eleven steps have a significant impact on an archer’s success, and each are of the utmost importance. Archery has provided me with opportunities to improve myself on and off the line. When you are faced with a challenge, start with your foundation. Archery has forced me to slow down, take a step back and breathe. It has also taught me to adapt when things are not going the way I want them to. With every arrow you get the chance to breathe, reflect, and start anew. A lot of the challenge in archery is mental, but what I have learned has helped me deal with those trials and find confidence within myself. Archery has been an important part of my life since third grade and I hope to take everything I have learned with me wherever life takes me. Archery has been deemed an individual sport but the way I see it, my friends, my coaches, and the memories I have made are what makes archery worth every moment, one arrow at a time.
