Update: Here is an
interview of my story My Dad asked one of my brothers and me if we wanted to go shoot with him for a weekend. It sounded great so we both said, "YES!" It's not EVERY weekend that your Dad makes that kind of offer! I was told that we would be shooting most of the day for two days in a row and that we'd be learning some ways to shoot better. I didn't have any expectations on what that be like as I'd never been taught how to shoot by anyone but my Dad. I got a LOT more than I expected.

I don't remember much of that first shoot. What I do remember is that I actually enjoyed a weekend out on the range with a bunch of people I had never met before; none of them anywhere close to my age, excepting my brother, and no other girls/women. I remember that the instructors were great and both teased and helped me a lot, not to mention making me feel right at home. I also remember hearing some history that I'd never heard before, the history of how this country that I am growing up in began. I was 12 but I can still remember that.
At my second Appleseed, I knew a little bit more of what to expect. But, yet again, I got a lot more than I expected. I was able to retain more of the history and information that I was hearing for the second time. I got to meet more people and there was another girl on the line!! I also had rifle malfunctions. Two pieces actually broke in my .22 and I ended up shooting our "spare" rifle, one that I'd never shot before, during part of Sunday.
My third shoot was very much the same except that I got to meet my FIRST female Instructor and there were several girls and people my age as shooters!! Again I got to meet Instructors and shooters that I'd never met before. I also got to see Believer (from my first shoot) again. This time I was only able to shoot for one day as we had to drive back home the next. And this was the first time I'd ever gone to a shoot that was in a different state, WA, than the one I live in, Idaho.
My fourth and last shoot, so far, as a shooter, was different in some ways than my previous three. There were no familiar faces amongst the instructors or the shooters, except for my Dad and Mom. I got to learn yet another way of using a tube-fed rifle on an Appleseed line. I got to hear the history and it stuck even more. This was also the shoot that I finally shot my Rifleman score at. I think that the only thing I did differently was that I didn't worry about what score I was shooting, taking it one shot at a time, and since I wasn't worried I was relaxed...
Since then I have gotten on the forum and become an instructor. I have instructed at four shoots so far. Each has been unique in its own way. I had two goals before the end of 2009, 1. to be given my red hat by this guy named Earl and 2. to become a full Red Hat instructor before my 17th birthday. I managed to achieve both with the help of every Instructor in Training, Instructor, Shoot Boss, Senior Instructor, and Master Instructor from my first shoot up until now, as well as some people that I've never meet before but have "worked" with online and my family's support.
Appleseed has become a family event for us. I do have to say that I've enjoyed every shoot as a shooter, and now I've enjoyed every shoot I've gone to as an Instructor. I was privileged to be able to hand my Mom her Rifleman badge, watch my little brother receive his Rifleman badge from my Dad, watch them both accept the orange hat of an Instructor in Training, see my only sister go from "I'm never going to go to one of those shoots" to "I can't wait to be an Instructor! I love it!" and you can't forget that she
ACED Stage 2 of the AQT (!!) and hear my oldest brother say, "Dang... I'd better get with the program..." when he heard how much fun we are having. And for any of you who are wondering, yes, I am homeschooled.
To everyone from the newest IIT to the oldest MI, thank you. Specifically, I'd like to thank a few of people who have really helped me: my family, SavageShootr, Believer, Earl, Hawkhavn, PaRah, RL, tdow, Wheeler44, OLD GEEZER, Deu1118, Cedarpole, Ishy, Goldfish, Johnny, panhead, Nurse Ratchett, Clodhopper, BEEMER, Boba Fett, MeanStreaker, LayloPro, Funfaler, PHenry, the whole Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington Instructor Corps, and many, many, many more. You all have encouraged and inspired me... Helped me learn and grow... All more than you will ever know... I will never forget that and I know that I will never be able to thank you enough.
"Actually, I don't like writing at all, but saving America is too great a cause to not participate in because of excuses." ~ GoldFish
