Elle Vampa

“Here’s what you want to focus on…” My friend draws a circle within a larger circle, adding dashes to the outside, making his instructions resemble somewhat of a sun.

As he tries his best to teach me, The Unknowing One, the basics of shooting, I simply aim and pull the trigger gently.

BANG!

“That’s a hit,” the man watching us hands us the fact faster than my friend can draw his jaw back up. He nods his approval, never once even moving his hands from across his chest where they rest easily.

It’s Friday night and I have finally taken my friend up on his offer to join him at his shooting club. He’s lend me his son’s rifle and I’ve just fired my first shot powered by compressed air – no real bullets here!

I look at my amazed friend and shrug, almost apologetically.

“It’s probably just beginner’s luck,” I suggest.

45 more shots later I dare admit my talent, with only one half-miss, four bullseyes, forty way-inner-circle and one 2-almost-clean-through-1-hole hits.

I have not only amazed myself, I have managed to amaze everyone at the club (which wasn’t too hard, considering there were only four others – all men by the way).

A counting machine giving out 90’s vibes and quick scores says my total of 40 Competition Shots (after 6 trial shots my friend told me to go for it) add up to a whooping 330/400!

I came to find a way to clear my head, blow off steam before I blow up from stress. What I found is a renewed belief in myself.

I can do this!

Funny how being surprisingly good at something can make you feel surprisingly good about yourself.

And in terms of aiming for a new hobby, I think I’ve hit my mark!