story by Riata Cummings
Destiny Givens is a senior at Wasatch High School, where she enjoys the creative writing of her English class. She recently finished her term as the Vice President of the Wasatch FFA Chapter, and she loved that the organization allowed her to meet all kinds of students from all across the state. Destiny also enjoys forensic science and hopes to attend the University of Utah to study criminology and forensics.
Destiny is the daughter of Sharon and Glade Givens of Wallsburg, Utah. She has an older brother, Quintyn, and Destiny loves being an aunt to Quintyn’s daughter Presley. As a family they enjoy traveling, especially when they are traveling to visit friends in Florida.
Destiny has been competing in the trap shooting through the Utah High School Rodeo Association since the spring of her freshman year. She was introduced to the sport by her friends that were also competing and loves that the event is “all based on you and your ability.” Destiny has taken first at a few of the qualifying shoots and qualified to shoot at the Silver State International Rodeo for the past two years. At the last qualifying shoot she finished third, and is currently sitting 12th in the state standing. She has set a goal to finish in the top 10 after the state finals shooting.
Destiny practices with the other members of the rodeo club each Wednesday at the local gun club. One of the most challenging aspects of shooting is the reliance on the weather’s cooperation. “It is so weather based. If it is at all windy, it is automatically harder. If there is wind or rain, everything is luck of the draw.” But, Destiny loves the event and the people she competes with.
Destiny’s role models are her parents. Before Destiny was born, her parents lost two children in a tragic car accident and a third to premature birth. Destiny admires her parents for their determination to be happy and continue living despite those hardships. “After going through something so difficult, their example teaches me that, no matter what, you have to still live your life to the fullest.” Destiny’s mother is outgoing and kind, and Destiny would like to emulate that “ability to talk to anyone and be anyone’s friend.” Her father is self-driven and hardworking, and Destiny “wants to be like that, even though it can be incredibly hard.”
Destiny has come to realize that “bad and challenging things can happen to anyone”, and “it is so important to treasure the people in your life and the things that bring you joy.”
Destiny lives by the saying, “Don’t let your fears decide your fate.” She believes that “too many people hide behind their fears and allow the fear of failure to stop them from going after the things they want. I want to acknowledge my fears and go after my dreams regardless. I don’t want that fear to hold me back.”
Destiny is grateful for the opportunity she has had to compete in the trap shooting, and for the people who have made it possible.
