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Photo courtesy of Hayden Gold (12-1)
As an accomplished athlete and mathlete, how do you handle the stress of competition?
You learn to deal with it as you go on. There's always that pressure that comes from something you value. I put it in perspective and I think every time how much it really matters. If anything, what really matters is the great friends I have racing by my side. Does the performance really matter or is it the relationship you formed with that performance?
What’s the most valuable lesson your parents have taught you?
There are really no bad people. I truly believe that all people are victims of their situation. From volunteering for Cradles for Crayons, I learned that Philadelphia was the #1 American city in deep poverty. There are so many victims of poverty and other unfair circumstances, both here and in the world. I attribute bad behavior to bad circumstances. One day, my family’s car was stolen and destroyed in a highway chase. Upon looking into the perpetrator’s record, I found he didn’t have the best upbringing. It’s those unfortunate circumstances that we don’t have control over that can lead us to poor behavior. The one thing we do have control over is what we do with our circumstances. The most valuable lesson I’ve learned is to do everything you can to help out those who weren’t dealt the hand that you were.
What is the best and worst part of your job? (Hayden is currently a barista, cashier, and pastry-chef-in-training at P.S. & Co)
The customers. As the only store in Philadelphia that is vegan, organic, kosher, and 100% gluten free, there are a lot of people with dietary restrictions who can’t be served anywhere else. It’s filling that niche. At the same time, the items are expensive because they are vegan and gluten free. The worst part is when everyone goes, “Oh my god this slice of cake is $15,” and I have to say “Yep. Yeah. It's $15. Yup. It’s also vegan and gluten free and I completely understand.” I mean, I’m not buying a $15 cake slice. I never have and I don’t know if I ever will. I’m also training people who are 10-12 years older than me and that’s good leadership experience. It feels rewarding, like I've learned something that I can teach others, even those who have longer life experience.
What do you do when you can’t fall asleep?
I have actually struggled with insomnia throughout my life. I now take melatonin, which helps me fall asleep. Before I used medicine, drugs, and before that I used imagery in my head. I realized that my thinking is what keeps me up. I’m like “what am I gonna do tomorrow?” I picture hanging out with my friends or racing. Those thoughts are engaging and energizing and they keep me awake. So I would think of calm places where there isn’t a lot of energy going around, like an isolated beach, that’s a classic. I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii, so I think of a beach in Hawaii and I’m sitting on the beach alone with my eyes closed.
What always cheers you up?
My friends and family always cheer me up. I grew up an only child and almost everyone I know has siblings. I haven’t had any brothers or sisters, but I have some cousins who are my friends and it gives me a sort of brotherly bond, as well as with other only children like Max [Chen] (12-1). There are times when it can feel kind of lonely, that you don’t have anybody beside you. When I think of the people I have in my life I feel less alone.
How would you describe your personal style?
My stupid little self when I was a young lad thought, “Drip doesn’t matter.” I didn’t believe in the phrase, “it’s drip or drown out here.” So I didn't put any work into the drip. My logic was, “what does Drip get me?” and I thought, “nothing. Drip doesn’t get me anything. If I study, that makes me smarter. If I work out, that makes me stronger. If I run, that gives me better endurance. What does putting time into the Drip get me?” That wasn’t a healthy mental state because I wasn’t prioritizing; Drip can make you happy. As time went on, I started seeing some connoisseurs of drip in our school. It makes somebody feel good about themselves and it can make you feel good about yourself. It’s like a mutual exchange. I just hope I don’t make this whole school drown in my Drip. I don’t know if you’ve seen my mesh fishnet tank top. I’m quite proud of that. Sometimes it’s quite subtle. I go mono-color. At PS&Co, the uniform is just all black, so I have a lot of black clothes. I’ll wear black pants, black khakis and black polos. But other times, I want to be seen, and that's when the fishnet top comes on and it’s like the beast awakening within me. It’s my alter ego. As a statement of personal style, I don't know a thing about fashion. I do like wearing mono-colored stuff. It’s not distracting and it fits well together. Maybe navy blues and blacks.
What fictional universe would you like to live in and why?
I decided as a family we needed a good movie night, so we watched the show Ted Lasso. I heard somebody say that the show is for 40-year-old white parents, so it put me off, but I watched it and I really enjoyed it. There was a good line from Jamie, “why would I be anybody else when I can be me?” Why live anywhere else when I can live here? I’m happy here. I would live where I am living now.
What advice would you give to your freshman self?
The first thing I would do is look my freshman self in the eye and give him a slow, comfortable hug. I would also tell him to clean up his hair. Yeah, I didn’t have the ‘do back then that I do now. I’d tell him that everything works out. It can be stressful. But you get through it.
Why is running important to you?
The cross country team last year [during the pandemic] was very small. Owen Moss (graduated), Adam Gizis, and Calder Burke, were there for me at a time when there wasn’t much else. I had never run so much in my life. I would go out and do eight miles a day on average. There weren’t any races but I remember exploring the city and the wilderness and trails and forests and it felt so freeing. Sometimes I look at running and I’m like, “what’s the point in this?” Other sports are games, there’s strategy to it and there’s strategy to running in terms of pace and stride but it’s not as technical as other sports. I think about running through the forests around Belmont plateau and maybe it’s snowing, maybe it’s just cold as hell, but I’m running with these guys and I’m enjoying myself. I’m looking around and observing the beautiful nature and I’m talking with my friends and I’m happy. I think that’s why I love cross country. Those memories that were made when high school athletics are probably at its lowest is probably when I had the best time.
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