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September 2004 Issue
Lessons from the line
by Jennifer Shike
I slipped on my vest and earplugs and took my position on the line. It was finally my turn. A few years had passed since I shot clay birds with my dad and brother. As I carefully loaded the chamber, turned off the safety and raised my shotgun, all of the lessons Dad taught me flooded back into my mind.
I yelled “pull,” sighted my target and squeezed. The shotgun kicked back a bit as the bullet sailed over the clay bird. While this wasn’t the result I was aiming for, it didn’t dampen my enthusiasm.
If you’ve never been trap shooting before, it’s definitely a contagious experience – once you start, it’s hard to stop.
When I was younger, I enjoyed shooting targets with my dad and brother. Once I learned the basics, dad showed me how to shoot trap – I still look forward to opportunities to go out to the shooting range with him.
The most valuable lesson I learned from my dad was to respect firearms. You didn’t get to practice if you didn’t practice the right way. In addition to teaching us how to respect firearms, dad also taught us safety rules that were applicable to our lives in more ways than one.
Treat your firearm as if it is loaded – never assume it is empty. I grew up knowing that guns were not toys. Dad made it clear that guns should be respected.
Our lives are similar to a loaded firearm. They are loaded with family, friends and people who care about us. They are loaded with opportunities to succeed, to help other people and, for our readers, to make lasting contributions to the purebred swine industry!
However, if we make poor choices or allow other people to pressure us into making bad decisions, we are assuming our lives are “empty.” We forget about the impact our lives can make in our schools, community and world. I believe in giving people a second chance, but sometimes second chances aren’t possible.
As you consider the year ahead, make a commitment to treat your life as though it’s loaded – make wise decisions that will benefit your life.
Always be aware of your target. Not only should you be aware of your target at all times, but you also must know what lies beyond it. Did you know a bullet from a rifle can travel 1-½ to 2 miles beyond its target? Just knowing where your target is located is not enough – you need to be aware of what surrounds your target and what you must do to reach it.
Everyone has a different target – we are not all created to hit the same one. Are you aware of yours? Do you know what it will take to reach it?
If you don’t have a target, then it’s time to get one. Graduation, leadership positions, sweepstakes titles, service projects and marriage are just a few examples of what your target might be now or in the future.
The NJSA Board met in August to discuss its targets for 2004-05.
The advice I gave them is the same I would share with you when determining where you are going in life: Don’t worry if it’s a long shot – just figure out where you need to start aiming!
Never put your finger in the trigger guide until you are ready to shoot. Of all the lessons Dad taught me, this one stands out the most.
It seems pretty basic, doesn’t it? Don’t put your finger on the trigger until you are ready to shoot. But, it’s a common mistake that many novice shooters make.
You have to purposefully remind yourself while you are on the shooting line to think first and shoot second.
All of our choices in life have a consequence. If you talk in class to your friend, your teacher will give you a warning or a detention. If you work with your pig daily on showmanship, then you will have a positive result at the show.
Just like trap shooting, when you squeeze the trigger and make a choice, it is final. You have no other recourse but to let the bullet go. You can’t put it back.
Many times we speak first and think second, or we act irrationally and then realize later what we have done.
I believe it’s important to keep in mind that for every action we take in life, a consequence will follow.
I never realized the deep meaning of these lessons when I was younger.
But, now I see that I learned more than just firearm safety on those outings with Dad. I learned a lot about life, too.
And with practice at the range, the next time I yelled “pull,” the clay bird smashed into pieces. Ah, the sweet success of hitting your mark.
