With the different obligations prevalent in high school, it is often difficult for students to find outlets to express themselves. Despite this, senior Haden Andrews continually delves deeper into his favorite hobbies and stands as an anchor of stability in the lives of his closest friends. Haden can be found trekking into the Santa Cruz Mountain Range around Saratoga in his free time, snapping photos of primal natural features or cooking classic meals for his family and friends. Through this multitude of interests, he never fails to stick by his authentic and artful self.

Haden’s burgeoning fascination with photography flourished in his sophomore year when he took a photography class for the first time, where his journey of transforming his rudimentary camera skills into complete mastery began.

“At first, I was really overwhelmed by all the camera settings,” Haden said. “But I quickly found what worked for me. My teacher taught me all the basics, and over time, I started getting better with all the techniques.”

To experiment with nature shots, Haden began taking short excursions into the wilderness of the Santa Cruz Mountains. As his aptitude for photography grew, Haden  felt it become an integral facet of his character that others recognized immediately. This change captivated  photography teacher Josh Martinez, who admires Haden’s diligence and creative vision for the medium.

“I distinctly remember this series of pictures that he made of his father’s train set,” Martinez said. “I remember how careful he was throughout that process to make it something that conveyed curiosity to other people. It was one of the first signs where I saw a passion for photography coming out of him.”

In everything he does, Haden tries to make sure his friends benefit from his actions. Photography may seem like an individual hobby, but he does his best to involve others around him. This past summer, his originally solo photography trip in Alaska blossomed into a group activity that everyone enjoyed together.

“I thought it was a perfect way to experiment with photography and take more photos,” Haden said. “I went with friends to see glaciers and it was amazing. It was one of the coolest experiences of all time.”

Those close to Haden know that his affinity for his friends is as limitless as his dedication to photography. Close friend senior Gabe Sachse recounts how Haden’s unwavering loyalty and kindness compels him to ensure the happiness of others.

“I really wanted to submit an essay to this essay competition,” Gabe said. “But I had put down the wrong deadline and it was actually due the night of homecoming. He decided not to go to the dance and let me stay at his house and made dinner for me while I worked. That shows that at the expense of having a junior year homecoming experience, he decided to stick by me. I think that shows both his deep kindness and loyalty.”

Over the summer, Haden also established a stalwart workout pattern, which he found greatly freed up time for him to augment his culinary repertoire. By frequently serving a variety of dishes to family and friends, Haden expands his cooking experience and expertise.

“When I’m alone, I make healthy meals with lean meats, rice and roasted vegetables,” Haden said. “When I’m with friends, I can make other meals. I love making vodka pasta and I like finding new stuff to make, especially with friends.”

Many of Haden’s friends view him as a role model due to his genuineness. Close friend Jack Ledford (‘24) sees Haden as one of the constants in his life even after moving on to college. Jack first met Haden in middle school and immediately found him funny and approachable. Throughout high school, Jack discovered that despite being in different grades and not sharing many common classes, they still hung out frequently and learned more about each other. Haden’s fidelity and authenticity continue to impact Jack today.

“He’s naturally able to get people to like him without having to put on a front,” Jack said. “He’s always himself, whether with a friend group A or B. He’s the same person in every scenario, which I’ve come to try to replicate as well.”

With determination and the help of others, Haden found a way to balance his photography skills, and he similarly applies this dedication and honesty to all his interests. Moving on from high school, he hopes that the diligence he’s instilled in himself can carry over to the future.