Hayden was born in Arlington, Virginia, but has lived abroad most of his life. He studies History, which he hesitates to label as only “names and dates”. He prefers, “a dialogue with the collective legacy of the human past”.
In his first semester, he took the SNF Paideia Course, Things One Should Never Discuss: Politics and Religion. A notable discussion from that class centered on how the Penn community should address the discovery of MOVE bombing victims’ remains at the University. In expressing their differing views about social responsibility, almost every student who spoke invoked their personal experience. It interested him how each person’s values are deeply embedded in the context of their own life.
He enjoys petting dogs, reading, learning German, MMA, and journaling.