BREMEN, Ala. — In this interview, I talked to Cold Springs’ senior Chloe Shipp. She played basketball and volleyball her first two years in high school and cheered during her 10th grade year. She talked about some of her best sports memories and all she learned during that time.
“I really enjoyed going to the Miracle Field and volunteering with my basketball team my freshman year. It was just fun to hang out with the team and get to meet some amazing people. My favorite memory from cheer my sophomore year was when our varsity boys’ basketball team won the county championship. It was so much fun getting to support them the whole way there and getting to be a part of the big win,” Shipp said. “I learned that the people who support you and have your back are the kind of people you want to surround yourself with. It makes life better when you have teammates, or friends, that you can count on to be there without hesitation when you need them to be. It also taught me to be a better person myself, so I can be that friend to someone too.”
Chloe was in a few clubs during her time as an Eagle and talked about that experience.
“I was in the 1936 Club, Yearbook Committee, Clean Campus Committee, FCCLA, FFA, Honor Society, and SGA. I liked being in them all because it kept me involved in my school and community. It was a ton of fun. It was a great way to give back to my school and my community through fundraisers and events. My sponsors taught me a lot about how to have good character inside and outside of school,” Shipp said. “It was great to have such amazing sponsors and members. It was awesome to see how much the other members cared about our school and community. We would all work together to come up with ideas to fundraise and get the student body to stay involved in our school. I made a lot of friends in the clubs I joined, so I am very grateful for the many clubs at Cold Springs.”
Chloe had so many great high school memories and also talked about what made Cold Springs a special place to go to.
“Homecoming week was always my favorite week of the school year. Getting to dress up and decorate the hallways was something I looked forward to each year. I loved being able to watch our varsity girls’ basketball team make it to state this year and I had a really fun time cheering them on with the student section each game. I also enjoyed going to track meets and cheering the athletes on when they won state. I have so many memories from the past four years that I’m so thankful for. Another one of my favorite high school memories was working as a diamond doll this year for the baseball team and getting to have fun working the games with my friends, while supporting our baseball team at the same time.”
She added,
“Cold Springs is like my second home. You can just feel when people truly care about you and want you to do your best and that’s how the faculty and students made me feel at Cold Springs. I never felt like I could not go to any of the teachers for help, because they really wanted their students to reach their greatest potential. They taught me how to be respectful, responsible, and prepared me for wherever life takes me next.”
Chloe will deeply miss being at Cold Springs next year and was blessed to go to school with some amazing seniors.
“I am definitely going to miss the people the most. I had so many great teachers that I am so thankful for. I will also miss being around my best friends every day. I made some of my closest friends at Cold Springs that I know I’m going to keep for the rest of my life,” she said. “My senior class has so many wonderful and talented people and I am excited to see where they go in life. They made school so much fun, and I believe every single one of them is going to make something out of themselves. I cannot wait to walk the stage with them and start the next chapters of our lives.”
Chloe talked about what she will remember the most about being an Eagle, what she taught the younger students, and what advice she would give the students that will be starting high school in August.
“The support and genuine love our school gives to its students would be hard to forget. I am going to stay involved in the college I choose to go to because of how much I loved being involved at Cold Springs. I will always remember the kindness and encouragement that just radiates from Cold Springs,” she said. “I hope I taught them how to make the best out of school. Staying involved and trying their best in class really pays off. I hope I was a good role model to them.”
She added,
“My advice for the freshmen would be to not worry about ‘fitting in’. There are so many different clubs and sports to join to find friends with the same interest as them. They should just be their self and do their best. It is hard starting high school, but if you stay true to yourself, then you will be just fine.”
Chloe received some scholarships during her time at Cold Springs and she made her decision on which college she will be attending. She talked about how that felt.
“I received four scholarships from different colleges that totaled $30,350. I am accepting an Academic Merit scholarship from UAH worth $4,850 per year. I feel very thankful and honored to be awarded these scholarships. Hard work really pays off and I’m grateful to have had amazing teachers who helped make it possible. It was a blessing to be awarded it.”
