Meet the founding members of the Archery Support Squad from the archery workshop at Explo at Wellesley (pictured clockwise, from left — Nina from Florida, Kate from Massachusetts, Jenna from California, and Zach from Florida). Although these archers only picked up bows and arrows for the first time ever earlier this week, they've learned that one of the most important lessons in improving any skill is to have support and to be the support for others.
So, tell me about what exactly the archery support group is?
The archery support group is a group of people who are not the greatest archers in the world, but, we still cheer for one another like you hit a bullseye every time, even if you didn't even hit the target.
How did the group get founded?
Well, we'd never played archery before and on our first day, it was really tough hit the target or even know the proper form. So we just started cheering for each other, because, why not? Then people joined and it spread, and now everybody in the class is really positive whenever anyone shoots an arrow, so we're all a part of the club!
How do you think spreading positivity and cheering for others helps people who aren't so confident in their abilities?
It makes you feel like you have a community to fall back on, even when you fail. And it makes you feel a little less bad about being not the most athletic person in the world.
How do you think your group relates to the Explo message of exploring new avenues and maintaining a positive attitude?
I think it relates because it shows that we're trying new things. We may or may not be good at it, but there are always going to be people there who want you to do well and who will cheer for you, whether you do well or not. Your skill level doesn't matter, it just matters that you're having a fun time. Even if you fail, you just keep trying until you improve, because with all this support, you're going to get better.
This workshop was our first time trying archery. Some of us hadn't even touched a bow and arrow until Monday. But it looked really fun and seemed like something we can try and learn to be really good at.
If you could give advice to someone who wants to try new things but might afraid, what would you say?
Just do it! Make your dreams come true! Do it even if you're going to fail, because, even though failing is scary, it's okay, because you're learning new things. And, even if you fail, you're still going to be better off than when you started!
Jaryd Frankel