How to Start?
To be frank, I’ve never been very good at introductions. How do I start? What should I say? What’s too much information, but also, what’s not enough?
One way is stilted and unnatural, but another way may be irreverent and snarky. I’ve never mastered it, never found that perfect way of saying, “hello, here are the Sparknotes of my life in a fun and interesting way.”
Perhaps this is the first part of my introduction, me not being good at it. The second part of my introduction is my love for all things archery. But you probably already knew that. Why else would I write for the National Archery in the Schools Program? So there. Two items in, we’re doing great. Shall we continue?
My name is Sara Davis. I am a 16-year-old Spanish-American girl from the wild and wonderful land of Southern Oregon.
Life in Oregon
When someone thinks of Southern Oregon, they may think of pears, hippies, or wildfires. You wouldn’t be totally off. I always find myself thinking how lucky I am to live here, in this charming corner of the state. The best places are those just outside of town. The views out here, just from looking out the window of your car, could be postcards or calendar photos.
I’m a sophomore at a private Catholic school (where very few are actually Catholic) that I have attended since I was 12 years old. My younger brother, Nicolas, is in the lower school as an eighth-grader. We live with our parents and our beloved dog.
What can I say about my family? My brother is tall, a great dancer, and very funny. My dad shares my brother’s humor, height, and has a love for golf and chess. My mother is a Spanish immigrant who likes golfing, running, and flamenco dancing, a traditional style of Spanish dance. My dog’s name is Zuko, a sweet husky-lab mix. Now, let’s get to the real thing that we’ve all come here for in the first place—the archery.
The Archery
I am a member of the St. Mary’s Archery Team and was one of the team’s first members back in 2017. In our five years as a team, we have brought home several state titles with the trophies proudly on display in the middle school algebra room, headquarters of our esteemed coach, Mrs. Cushing.
I have found great success and fulfillment in archery, consistently placing in the top ten every year at state. The last year before Covid struck, I missed first place by one point and ended up in third after losing the tie-breaker.
I shoot both Genesis and recurve bows and have been successful in competitions with both.
Archery Goals
Some of my goals for the 2022 NASP season include placing in the top five at state again and finally being able to go to nationals, so long as Covid doesn’t get in the way. I hope to have a good time with my friends and make some good memories along the way, and I hope to improve my recurve skills and go to more competitions.
Most of all, I just want to keep doing one of my favorite things with some of my favorite people in the world. Archery has always been so wonderful for me. It’s always the highlight of my school year, and I am so excited to share those experiences with all of you.
-Sara Davis is a 2022 student contributor. Watch for her future submissions.-