When Jasmine Smith ’27 enrolled in a KINE 199 archery course during her sophomore year, her goal was to stay active. She didn’t expect the class would lead her to compete at her first-ever tournament on the national stage and contribute to the 24th Collegiate Target National Championship in Texas A&M University Archery history.

Like many students exploring PEAP courses, Smith approached archery with curiosity and a willingness to challenge herself. “I’ve taken KINE 199 classes to have a physical activity scheduled into my week and I also love trying new things,” Smith said. “I figured this is my chance to take an archery class, so I signed up.”

The course is part of our Department of Kinesiology and Sport Management’s Physical Education Activity Program (PEAP) that encourages students to explore new activities while developing wellness habits and skills beyond the classroom. Instead of focusing only on competition, PEAP helps students build confidence, resilience and healthy lifestyles through hands-on learning.

“PEAP’s overall mission is lifetime activity, fitness and wellness,” Lorinda Cohen Gomez, associate department head and chair of PEAP, explained. “Students gain hands-on experiences that help them practice healthy habits, manage stress and develop skills that support their physical, mental and social well-being.”

Jasmine Smith competes in barebow archery as a member of the Texas A&M Archery Team.

After successfully completing the beginner archery course, Smith advanced to intermediate archery the following year. As her skills developed, Gomez introduced her to barebow archery. This discipline removes many of the accessories found on Olympic recurve bows and relies heavily on consistency and precision.

What started as a chance to try something new soon became much more than Smith could have imagined. Within a month of shooting barebow, her growth came as no surprise to Gomez. “Jasmine is very coachable. I’d teach her something, and she’d absorb that information and make it happen,” Gomez noted. “As her skills continued to develop, I realized she was performing at the same level as our team members and asked if she had ever considered joining the Texas A&M Archery Team.”

Smith celebrates Texas A&M Archery’s national championship and her Barebow Women’s event success.

Smith said yes. It became the first of many “yeses” that opened the door to new opportunities. One decision led to another as she joined the team, built new friendships and prepared for her first national competition. At the USA Archery Collegiate Target Nationals, Smith placed 7th in the Barebow Women’s division, earned a bronze medal in the Barebow Women’s Team Event and helped Texas A&M Archery secure its 24th national championship title.

While the national championship is an incredible outcome, Gomez said the program’s impact can be different for any student. “Our program is unique because it can transform a student’s college experience. Some students discover a new hobby, some become competitive athletes and others simply develop healthier lifestyles. The goal is for students to carry what they learn in our classes with them for a lifetime,” Gomez explains.

For Smith, the lessons extended far beyond the target. “It’s almost entirely a mental sport,” she shared. “I’ve learned that just because I have one bad shot doesn’t mean the next one will be bad. Taking a breath, resetting and trying again has changed the way I approach challenges in my life.”

As she takes what she’s learned through archery into her summer internship with JD Martin, Smith continues to apply the resilience and confidence she developed overtime. She hopes other students won’t let uncertainty keep them from reaching their potential.

“Don’t let the possibility of failure stop you from trying something new because you can always learn and grow,” she advises. Now preparing for her senior year, Smith looks forward to competing through her first full collegiate season with the Texas A&M Archery Team while continuing to grow as an athlete and a student.

For students interested in staying active, PEAP offers a variety of KINE 199 courses, including archery, handball, golf, pickleball, tennis, volleyball and over 50 other activities designed to promote lifelong fitness and wellness.

Learn more at: https://peap.tamu.edu/.

For media inquiries, contact Ruben Hidalgo.