I've had the opportunity to go along deer hunting in the past, but this year I got to go with a gun of my own. It was the best hunting trip Ihave had so far. Iwas so excited when I pulled the trigger and I saw that deer just fall. One shot. My dad was excited and it was only a few seconds after it fell that I was calling my mom and telling her Igot my first deer in only one shot.

Ilove to do all types of hunting, but from this point Ithink Imight just stick to the deer hunting. When deer hunting, you get to walk and find the deer you are looking for, the one that will make you proud.

Iwould love to go out hunting every day, but Ican't. Ican only hope that Iget a job that will let me still hunt. Iknow that it will always be something my dad and I do, until he can't go anymore, but Idon't think that is going to happen anytime soon. But if it does, Ican only hope that he will still feel that joy of knowing that he taught me you can do anything that you put your mind to. That's part of hunting, getting out there and achieving a goal.

Ilike to do other things besides hunting as well. Iplay guitar and I'm in a group at my school called the Simle Singers, and even though Iget up at 5 a.m. almost every other day to do it, Ienjoy it almost as much as hunting.

Iknow that no matter what Ido with my life Iwill always remember the time hunting with my family and nothing will ever change that, no matter what my life becomes or what I do with it.

(Rebecca Raatz, 14, is a ninth-grader at Simle Middle School.)