I was watching the archery finals of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games when I got a notification from my latest archery regional tournament. This was not one of my best scores, and I ended up placing in the top 50 of my division. I was filled with deep despair as I realized the nationals were only a few weeks away. If I performed unsatisfactorily in this tournament, it would leave a stain on my passion for archery.
Starting a few years after the pandemic, I had picked up archery as a hobby. Since then, I grew fond of archery and started tournaments and practicing three times a week. Receiving this notification left an engraving on my attitude towards archery and motivated me in this sport. I would train and stay after classes for feedback. I did all I could to reach a higher rank in the nationals.
On the day of the nationals tournament, I soothed my feelings and made sure to relax my mind before I started shooting. I was full of anticipation, but remained focused on one single point—the inner gold of the target.
In the end, I exceeded my expectations—placing eleventh. I admit that I would need to devote more training if I ever want to achieve more ambitious goals. In this event, I learned to remain focused and determined, even when presented with difficult tasks and anxiety.
If I ever find myself watching the Olympics again, I am determined to grow beyond being a spectator, but also an archer shooting down the range in the stadium.
