For years, Aaron Lin’s family searched for something that would truly click. Like many parents of a child on the autism spectrum with ADHD, they explored different activities, unsure what might resonate or stick. Aaron had interests - coins, mushrooms, things that captured his attention - but nothing quite translated into a lasting, meaningful outlet.

Then came archery.

It wasn’t an immediate leap. The spark first appeared years earlier during a Cub Scouts session, a brief introduction that quietly stayed with him. Over time, Aaron kept bringing it up - asking about it here and there - until his family finally found a local Junior Olympic Archery Development (JOAD) club where he could give it a real try.

“In his first ever session, he was focused for the entire two hours,” his father Michael recalled. “We’d never seen that before.”

That moment marked the beginning of something bigger.

Now 14, Aaron is in his third year shooting Olympic recurve and shoots in the U15 division. He is in Utah this weekend competing at the Easton Foundations Salt Lake Summit. What began as curiosity has grown into commitment, highlighted by his first national tournament appearance in New Mexico last year and his selection to the Regional Elite Program (REP) Team West this season.

But Aaron’s journey in archery goes beyond scores and milestones.

“I am autistic,” Aaron shared. “Some of the information is harder for me to understand.”

Tournaments, in particular, can be challenging. The structure, timing, and procedures require constant attention - tracking shooting rotations, managing scoring, and staying locked in mentally.

“It takes a lot of mental effort for me to follow the procedures of a tournament,” he explained. “Sometimes I feel very anxious if I feel like I’m doing something wrong.”

Aaron credits his coach for creating an environment where he can learn at his own pace, with patience and understanding. That encouragement has helped him push through moments of uncertainty and continue building confidence on the line.

And in the process, something meaningful has taken shape.

“Archery is a fun sport and shooting arrows is satisfying,” Aaron said. “It’s cool to send the arrow flying through the air.”

It’s a simple description - but one that captures the essence of why he keeps coming back.

More importantly, archery has opened doors that once felt difficult to access.

“I feel like I’ve made a lot of friends in archery when sometimes it’s not easy for me to make friends quickly.”

That sense of belonging extends beyond his local club. Within the California archery community, Aaron has become a familiar face, known by judges and fellow competitors alike. His impact has even reached inside his own home - his older brother James took up the sport as well, going on to make a U.S. team in barebow and continue competing at a high level.

For the Lin family, archery has become more than an activity. It’s a shared journey.

Michael, inspired by his sons, earned his Level 3 coaching certification and now helps coach at their JOAD club, KSL Archery Academy, supporting not only Aaron and James, but other young archers finding their own paths in the sport.

And for Aaron, that path continues to unfold. What began as a quiet interest has grown into something steady and empowering, a place where focus comes naturally, friendships form, and effort turns into progress.

In a sport defined by precision and patience, Aaron Lin has found something even more valuable - a sense of confidence, connection, and joy., made even more special by the fact that his family has joined him on his archery journey.

For those inspired by stories like Aaron’s and interested in trying archery for themselves, becoming a member of USA Archery is a great place to start. Membership connects archers of all ages and abilities with certified coaches, local clubs, events and a nationwide community passionate about the sport.