I have been shooting all my life; however, I only started shooting this style of shooting in 2015. I began shooting to make friends in college and found that as well as an incredibly exciting career that I love.
As many readers here are aware, I am an Olympic Pistol Shooter. Ive been shooting this style of sport for about six years. In that time, Ive received several NRA National Titles, four USA National titles, a National Record, and three Continental titles including winning my Olympic quota, and currently waiting for my Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020 (now Tokyo 202One). In preparation for my career as an Olympic Athlete, I have had the opportunity to learn many things.
I recently listened to a talk that gave me some insight into leadership. A leader at church was reflecting on the wonder of the night sky. He was gazing at the beauty of the stars and how special it is that they produce their very own sources of light. He then directed his attention to the moon. It was full, and the light it was reflecting was not only beautiful but also helped illuminate the forest surrounding him allowing him to easily walk around his campsite without the need of a flashlight.
This made me reflect on a common perception of leadership. Being a leader will occasionally require the ability to produce your own light. For me, however, I have noticed the moments I felt like I was a successful leader were not the moments I was trying my hardest to shine. Rather, when I have looked to others for advice, or sought counsel from those that I respected, and then reflected on their ideas and inspiration. Reflection of others light is not something to be ashamed of or look down on. Its a way of supporting and promoting each other. It can help to lead the way through things like forests, campsites, decision making, and tough situations Life.
Ive had many opportunities to be a leader, make big decisions, and give my opinions and advice to others, but looking to others for help in my trials and acting on their advice, has shaped me and helped me to stand in front of you today. I hope to share a few of these experiences, as well as a few of my favorite quotes from incredible leaders.
Even though I have only been participating in this sport for a few years, I have grown up shooting with my family. Spending many quality hours with my dad and grandpa, and we would go out on the weekends to have a little fun at the range. Eventually, my dad felt that I should take a hunter safety class to further my firearms safety education and to complete a requirement for some of the competitions they had for my age group. When he signed me up, I had to have special permission because the class was for 12 to 16-year-old kids, and I was only ten. The class was all boys enrolled. Since I was a girl, they had to have a second coach that was female to work alongside me for the positioning and physical work. I had a little pink rifle that my dad made for me, complete with my name carved on the side. I would come to class with my cute outfits that mom helped pick out with ribbons in my hair. I sat amongst a sea of young men. No one thought much of it, until our first competition. I ended up in first place. I suspect many brushed it off as a fluke. In my next competition, I took second place. I felt disappointed at not taking first place again. The young men and their parents were upset that I had been doing well and felt my rifle was giving me an advantage. Therefore, a new rule was put in place that would mean I wasnt able to bring my pretty rifle to the next competition. When the third competition rolls around, I was then required to shoot a rifle that is almost as big as me that I have only shot once or twice before. It didnt make much of a difference which gun I shot, because, in the end, I was carrying my first-place trophy. These competitions were my first experiences with people being envious of my accomplishments, and I look back and reflect on them often. I couldnt let it bother me if people were upset or angry that I won. I was having fun and doing something I loved. I made this the most important thing.
