The Journey of a Sharpshooter
The experiment I chose for my final project is Experiment #2. Experiment #2 is the photo essay/timeline of my life growing up in shooting sports. Throughout this timeline, you will see my family and I at different ranges using different types of firearms and targets. Follow my journey of mastering a unusual sport that taught me how to be the focused, strong, and confident person that I am today. Each image/video's description is to the left or right
July 2009—Indoor range (AR-15) (FIRST EXPERIENCE IN RANGE)
-10 years old
-First time shooting rifle
-Still targets
The only thing I feared aside from being the only girl at the range was the kick of a firearm. My bb gun had no kick; the airsoft guns have no kick; but my dad says that there is a little kick on this rifle. I inhaled, brought the butt stock to my shoulder and rested my cheek on the gun, aimed, and exhaled on the shot. There was hardly a kick at all! Nothing to be scared of.
11 September 2010- Indoor range (.22 Handgun)
-11 years old
-First time shooting a pistol
- Still targets
-My grey "shooting shirt"
"You need to make sure you have a steady grip," my dad said "and make sure your thumb is down or it will get cut on the recoil."
2 October 2011- Outdoor Range (.9mm Glock)
-12 years old
-First time shooting a gun stronger than a .22
I seem to be the only girl here but everyone seems really nice! Today my mom let me shoot her .9mm!
Fall 2012- Outdoor Range (AR-15)
-13 years old
-First time shooting in seated position
Dad let me sight the scope on my own today!
26 Sept 2012 Skeet Field
-Picture of my mother
Mom showed me what Skeet Shooting is. I've never shot a shotgun before and she said her shoulder hurts after only one day. I can't wait to try it. I've never shot a moving target before, though. I'm only 13.
4 August 2013- Outdoor Range
-14 years old
-Still Targets
My groupings are getting tighter! I can load and eject the magazine in and out with ease. I'm starting to get used to smelling like gun powder.
August 2013- Outdoor Range-Executive course
-Benelli M2 20 Gauge
-14 years old
-First time shooting shotgun
-First time shooting moving targets
Mom taught me what a "lead" is and how to do it on the executive course. I hit my first doubles today, too!
22 August 2013- Skeet Field
-14 years old
-First time on Skeet Field
-Station 8 low house
Mom took me to the field today! I was really nervous because the range was busy and people were watching. I'm the only kid here. My mom and I are the only women here. I'm a little intimidated by the other shooters but everyone is helpful with tips!
22 September 2013- Sporting Clays
-14 years old
-First time Sporting Clays
-R-L: Dad, little sister, and I
The sporting clays trail is a lot harder than I thought! All of the stations are different and spread far apart. It's a bit of a walk. Some of these stations have really crazy houses. One is called the "rabbit" and it rolls the disk across the ground really quickly. I didn't hit it but mom seems to get it every time.
18 May 2014-Sporting Clays
-14 years old
-Getting there
I seem to be hitting more now that I'm getting the hang of this shotgun. My littler sister is having fun pressing the button to launch the birds. It's fun to do something with the whole family. My dad keeps score while my mom and I shoot. We rent a golf cart now to drive between stations.
28 July 2014- Sporting Clays
-15 years old
Mom got a new shotgun. It's a Browning over-under 20 gauge. That means this Benelli is mine now!
I love spending family time at the range. Every week brings a new experience and I feel more and more confident in my skills every time we go.
2 August 2015- Sporting Clays
-16 years old
Mom let me shoot her shotgun today! It took a little to get used to it. It is much heavier and slimmer than mine. I couldn't hit a coupe birds for a while. Kinda embarrassing.
25 June 2016- 5 Stand
I was away at music school for the summer. My mom and dad did 5-stand with a couple friends and mentors.
Summer 2017- Sporting Clays
-18 years old
I love the station with a house that launches a bird over the water. Not only is it cool to see the splash in the water after I shoot the bird, it is also helpful to see where I hit if I miss.
Summer 2018- Sporting Clays
-19 years old
-Fourth Year of Sporting clays
-Moving targets
This was the first time I’ve been to the range in a while. I just came home from freshman year of college with a heavy heart and little motivation to tackle the summer.
“Let’s go to Church”
I was a little nervous to get back out on the field, especially since it’s been almost a year since I’ve been on the range. I was sitting on the back of the golf cart my dad was driving, watching the entrance to the sporting clays trail become smaller and smaller as the woods swallowed us up. In that moment, I knew everything was going to be ok. Let’s shoot some birds!
This way to Companion Essay!
