Shipp's book is just beginning By: Kevin Devitt Reggie Shipp likes to write. It’s probably a good thing because the Aurora West senior has a lot to say. Shipp’s writing will most likely never be published; however, it’s just his creative way of recalling where he came from, where he’s going, and most importantly - a gentle reminder that there will always be better days to come. “Most people look at me as a normal kid; they really don’t know the whole story. Maybe they know little bits and pieces,” said Shipp. To most, Reggie Shipp is a 17 year old senior point guard that wears #31 on game days and works at Finish Line on the weekends. To others that really know him, he is more or less, a modern day solider in the war of life. Shipp’s been there, done that, and survived to tell about his grueling hardships of life. He claims that without basketball, he wouldn’t be in the position he is today. “I always find time to write and play basketball,” Shipp recalled with a wide grin on his face. Reggie’s book isn’t written in proper English, it’s not on a computer, and it doesn’t have chapters, just titles and words built into rhymes. His book is written by hand, with his thoughts, his feelings, and holds the stories of his scars on his arms and the two tattoos that grace his biceps. Reggie writes what he wants because he can. His words are powerful and unique, perhaps because they are the truth. For a kid who hasn’t had much to call his own, these notebooks are his utmost favorite possession. Shipp’s journey started in 3rd grade when his parents divorced forcing him and his 2 younger brothers to move with their mother to Mississippi. This was the least of Shipp’s worries at the time. His number one priority was taking care of his two brothers because his mother was not around a lot to support the family. When 4th grade rolled around, young Reggie was in all reality, “the man of the house.” “I cooked for them and did those types of things a lot, I learned at a young age that I needed to be able to support them,” said Shipp of his younger years. However, it didn’t last for long because his two younger siblings returned to Illinois to live with their dad, which left Reggie and his mother alone in some of Mississippi’s toughest neighborhoods. “I really hoped it wouldn't end up like this But it became the last straw and that was it It hurts me inside that I never get to see you guys” The year 2000 wasn’t exactly the most memorable year of Reggie’s life. After basketball tryouts in the fall, Shipp was jumped by 7 older kids outside of the school. He left the scene with a concussion and a bloody face because of a broken nose. Shipp’s mother wasn’t around at the time so Reggie never made it to the hospital or the doctor’s office. A few months later, the 5th grader was making a pasta dinner for his 4th grade cousin when he accidentally hit the pot on the stove, sending hot water straight for his face. Reggie ducked to get out of the way; however, the water hit his back. Shipp had 3rd degree burns, yet, because of where he lived the ambulance wasn’t readily available. His cousin ran to a neighbor’s house and soon after they drove him to the hospital. Just as things seemed to be getting better, that summer Shipp was attacked by a dog. The hound proceeded to break both his left and right arm. During his time in the hospital Shipp’s right arm cast started to cut off his circulation, forcing the doctors to remove it. In the process Reggie was cut badly. Furthermore, when they inserted 3 screws into his arm to help his rehabilitation process, they were misplaced which caused his arm to start growing out of place. “When I am on the basketball court, I feel that I am free It’s my place I go and nothing bothers me”
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